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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">April 6, 2005 <i>(1:05 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 61</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">CANADA-INDIA TRADE RELATIONS TO INTENSIFY</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today announced that the Government of
Canada and the Government of India have signed a Joint Declaration on Science and
Technology (S&T) Cooperation.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“India is a true economic giant that boasts the largest emerging consumer market in the
world,” said Minister Peterson. “Canada wants to be part of it—including in the area of
science and technology. Conversely, I want India to think of Canada when it wants to
access the NAFTA market.”</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Building on Prime Minister Paul Martin’s visit to India in January, the Joint Declaration
sets the groundwork for an agreement with India on cooperation in science and
technology. The agreement would further develop the S&T linkages between the two
countries in academia, government and the private sector, and implement the
recommendations of the Canada-India Science and Technology Study released in
November 2004. Information about this study can be found at </span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220204006/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/country/india-sci-tech-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/country/india-sci-tech-en.asp</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">. National science advisors of the two
countries will begin to identify areas of cooperation, including biotechnology, health
research, the next generation of information technologies, sustainable energy and
space and environmental research.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">“Canada and India are both strongly committed to increasing their science and
technology capacities. Important new investments by both countries in this area present
unique opportunities to pool resources, share knowledge and open doors for both
Canadian and Indian scientists and companies,” said Minister Peterson.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Minister Peterson was also pleased to accept an invitation from the Confederation of
Indian Industry and India’s Department of Science and Technology to be the “partner
country” of the 11th Technology Summit and Technology Platform to take place in New
Delhi next September. The Summit will provide key representatives from industry,
academic and research institutions, and government with the opportunity to showcase
Canadian innovation.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">During the trade mission, Minister Peterson also announced that a Canada-India CEO
round table </span></span><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">will be held in Canada later this year.</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"> This event will increase awareness of
trade and investment opportunities, and will further brand Canada in India and
mainstream India in Canada. It will provide a dialogue between top executives of both
countries, which will enable them to familiarize each other with key corporate and
business objectives and capabilities, explore opportunities for business development
and discuss long-term trade and investment goals.<span>      </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">To this end, </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Minister Peterson met with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister
Kamal Nath, who also agreed to lead a trade mission to Canada in the fall.</span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220204006/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
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