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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">November 18, 2005 <i>(11:05 a.m. EST) </i><br>
No. 223<span> </span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA-INDIA JOINT STATEMENT ON FUTURE PLANS FOR S&T
COOPERATION</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt"></span></p>
<br>
<p>International Trade Minister Jim Peterson and India’s Minister of State for Science and
Technology and Ocean Development, Kapil Sibal, today issued a joint statement on
science and technology cooperation between the two countries.</p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center">- 30 -</p>
<p>The joint statement is attached.</p>
<br>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<br>
<p>Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</p>
<br>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184957/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">JOINT STATEMENT BY CANADA’S MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL
TRADE AND INDIA’S MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AND OCEAN DEVELOPMENT</span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>Canada and India agreed to specific areas of S&T collaboration in research
fields of mutual interest and benefit, initially focusing on nanoscience and
nanomedicine, information and communications technology, biotechnology and
health research and medical devices, sustainable and alternate energy and
environmental technologies, and earth sciences and disaster management.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>It was agreed that each country would designate an expert coordinator to
advance collaborative activity in each of these five themes.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>Canada and India agreed to enter into negotiations to launch the Canada-India
R&D and Innovation Program. This will be a bilateral program to jointly fund
projects in the industrial and academic sectors that have a strong potential for
commercialization.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>Both countries will come to an agreement in early 2006 on an implementation
plan to foster and identify joint research activity that will be undertaken between
our respective research communities.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>In order to explore new partnership opportunities, Canada sent a significant
nanotechnology delegation to the 2005 Technology Summit in New Delhi. Senior
members of Minister Sibal's delegation visited nanotechnology research facilities
in Canada during this visit. Canada and India agreed to establish a joint
Nanotechnology Working Group and undertake new initiatives, including
scientific exchanges, collaborative networks and commercially focused missions.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>Another area of immediate focus will be information and communications
technology, given its strength and importance to both the Canadian and Indian
economies. A vivid example of tangible cooperation resulting from the
Technology Summit is the memorandum of understanding signed today by ITAC
(Information Technology Association of Canada) and India’s NASSCOM
(National Association of Software and Service Companies).</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>Ministers Peterson and Sibal will appoint a joint committee to oversee the
implementation of the bilateral S&T agreement. The joint committee will have its
first meeting in India in early 2006 to develop the bilateral S&T work plan and
initial implementing arrangements.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>Ministers Peterson and Sibal demonstrated their personal commitment to
achieving progress under the Canada-India S&T Agreement. The two ministers
will oversee the work of the joint committee and receive its annual reports.</span></p>
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