Punjab to send delegation to India Calling Conference

Chandigarh, May 21 (UNI) Punjab will send a high-powered delegation to represent the state at the India Calling Conference in Canada from June 14 to 19 this year.

The Conference is being organised at Vancouver and Toronto.

The delegation, to be led by a Cabinet Minister, would comprise leading lights from the world of trade, commerce, industry, agriculture, education, literature, healthcare, infrastructure development, NRI welfare and information technology.

The decision was taken after the Canadian High Commissioner in India, Mr David Malone called on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here this morning.

Disclosing this, CMs media advisor Harcharan Bains said that although this year's Conference would focus on education, ICT, alterative sources of energy and life sciences, Punjab would use this opportunity both to showcase the advances made by the state in various spheres of development as well as to step up the state government's bonding with the Punjabi Diaspora in Canada.

In addition, the delegation would also seek to attract material and intellectual inputs from different fields to reinforce its own thrust towards achieving global standards for the people of the state, he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh has said that the composition of the delegation would also reflect the state government's efforts towards fully implementing the decisions taken at the NRI Sammelan held at Chandigarh and Jalandhar in January this year. One of the decisions taken at the Sammelan was to hold 'Sangat Darshans' to redress the problems of the NRIs at the places of their settlement.

The state government would tie up with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Northern Region and constitute the delegation that would visit Canada, the Chief Secretary said.

In the morning's meeting, the High Commissioner made a strong plea for increased exchange of what he called "human synergies" between the people of Punjab and Canada. Mr Malone said that there was a whole world of opportunities in various fields for the people of the two regions for constructive collaboration.

The High Commissioner was accompanied by Consul General, Ms Helen Economo Amundsn and Trade Commissioner Service, Mr Gurbans Sobti of the Consulate General.

During the meeting the Chief Minister said that since both Canada and Punjab are strong and growing economies, the two could work together for integrated development.

Mr Badal also asked the High Commissioner to set up some mechanism in his country to facilitate tie-ups between educational institutions in Punjab and in Canada.

Principal Secretary to Chief Minister D S Guru and Commissioner NRI Affairs A S Chhatwal also attended the meeting.

UNI HS BK1720