Canadian High Commissioner calls on Gen Rodrigues

Chandigarh, May 14 (UNI) Stating that India and Canada enjoy mature bilateral relationships and strong socio-cultural linkages, the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen.

(Retd.) S F Rodrigues today emphasised the need for further strengthening economic and trade ties through vibrant partnership and joint ventures in different fields of activity.

In a meeting with High Commissioner of Canada, Mr David Malone and Consulate General, Ms Helen Economo Amundsen at Punjab Raj Bhavan here, Gen Rodrigues said there was a major scope to further expand economic and business cooperation in wide range of fields like Information Technology, marketing of agriculture produce, sharing of educational tools and technologies.

which can be of immense mutual benefit of people on both sides.

Gen Rodrigues told the visiting dignitary that Chandigarh Administration has launched about 100 developmental projects, with the focus on improving the quality of life of people, empowerment of disadvantaged and creating opportunities for our youth to upgrade their skills and contribute their efforts in our own country instead of hankering for jobs in abroad.

Gen Rodrigues also discussed the problems of NRIs in Canada and told the High Commissioner that the Indian side had already set up a Facilitation Centre to provide them various services and strengthening their linkages with their home towns.

He mentioned that the trend of returning Indian IT professionals had already started from other countries to their home states and our effort was to create an IT friendly environment for them to fuel Indian Economy.

The Governor informed the High Commissioner that Chandigarh Administration had set up a World Class IT Park, with a special economic zone facility and there was a huge response from Multi National Companies (MNCs) to set up partnership ventures there.

He said the work on phase III of this global project have been started and it will provide employment opportunities to 65,000 youth.

He said that the other major projects like theme park and film city were in an advanced stage of planning and implementation.

The Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. David Malone, High Commissioner took a keen interest in the various programmes and assured that collaboration by the Canadian companies in various fields will be of immense benefit, as bothe sides shared interests in the global trading regime and competitive ventures, according to an official release here.

UNI