Canadian envoy in Chennai to strengthen trade with Tamil Nadu

New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): Canada's High Commissioner Joseph Caron is visiting Chennai from May 12 to 15 to further strengthen Canada's trade relationship with Tamil Nadu.

Caron will meet officials of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the heads of department of the Chennai Port Trust.

He will also eet heads of several business organisations, including Ashok Leyland, Apollo Group of Hospitals, Polaris Software Lab Limited, Cognizant Technology Solutions and the president of the Institute for Financial Management and Research.

Caron will also participate in a roundtable organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

On the eve of his departure for Chennai, Caron said: "India and Canada are natural partners in a wide range of sectors; from trade and investment, to science and technology, to academic relations.

We share the common values of Parliamentary democracies, federalist systems of governments, the rule of law and a commitment to global peace and security. Our extensive people-to-people contacts add to our vibrant bilateral relationship."

Canada and India relations have intensified over past few years, particularly since the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's November 2009 visit to India. There have been several high level bilateral visits in the recent past, including the visits of Kamal Nath, Minister of Road Transport and Infrastructure and Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, in March to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and enhance commercial opportunities for Indian and Canadian business.

India is a key priority for the Government of Canada's foreign and trade policy agenda with two-way trade approaching five billion dollars. (ANI)