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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 18, 2005 <i>(11:00 a.m. EST)</i></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">No. 222</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA AND INDIA SIGN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COOPERATION AGREEMENT</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson and India’s Minister of State for Science and
Technology and Ocean Development, Kapil Sibal, today signed a joint science and
technology (S&T) agreement that will enhance and strengthen collaborative research
and development activities between the two countries. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This agreement will boost Canada’s competitiveness through knowledge and
technology transfer to address the challenges and opportunities created by the rise of
emerging markets such as India,” said Minister Peterson. “Down the road, this could
mean exchanges of scientists and other experts, joint science and technology projects,
and many other benefits.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Under the new agreement, Canadian and Indian researchers, universities and
businesses will work more closely to discover new ideas and products,” said Industry
Minister David L. Emerson. “It will build on our mutual strengths and shared priorities in
science and technology.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">As noted in the government’s Economic and Fiscal Update, released earlier this week,
a diverse and technologically advanced economy requires strong and steady
investment in research and development to convert knowledge into jobs, and to
encourage partnerships between government, the private sector and academia.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">This agreement will support the development of S&T partnerships and collaborative
research among business, academic and government researchers and innovators in
various sectors, including biotechnology and nanotechnology, renewable energy and
earth sciences, and information communications technology. It will also facilitate joint
research and development activities that will help Canadian companies to
commercialize their innovations by providing access to international technologies and
by promoting Canada as a destination for foreign technology-based investments. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The S&T agreement aligns with CAN-Trade, launched earlier this week, which is a key
part of the government’s action plan for securing our nation’s future prosperity.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada recently announced $6.75 million over five years to promote S&T collaboration
with India under the new Canada-India R&D and Innovation Program. India also
declared that it will contribute equally to this program.</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220190033/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Christiane Fox<br>
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson<br>
Minister of Industry<br>
(613) 995-9001</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations<br>
Industry Canada<br>
(613) 943-2502</span></span></span></p>
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