By IANS
New Delhi : Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay is to lead a high-powered delegation to India Feb 18-22 to promote his country as the gateway between North America and the rest of the world to government and business leaders here.
“The mission will include key business forums in New Delhi and Mumbai and promote Canada’s Atlantic Gateway to Indian shippers, business leaders, and key government representatives,” a Canadian High commission statement Friday said.
Provincial government representatives and a private sector delegation representing airports, ports, railways, and transportation-related businesses and associations active on Canada’s Atlantic seaboard will accompany MacKay, who is also Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
“The development of Canada’s gateways and trade corridors is part of our government’s commitment to facilitating international trade and increasing our national competitiveness by linking North America to the world,” the statement quoted MacKay as saying.
“This mission demonstrates our government’s continuing partnership with the four Atlantic provinces to develop the Atlantic Gateway initiative,” he added.
“The Atlantic Gateway is an important part of the government of Canada’s strategy to improve our trade competitiveness through gateways which connect North America with the world,” Lawrence Cannon, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, said.
“We consider India to be a priority market and this mission will provide Canadian businesses with the chance to develop and strengthen commercial ties with their Indian counterparts,” he added.
Ministers from all four of Canada’s Atlantic provinces will participate in the mission.
They include Denis Landry, minister of transportation for New Brunswick; Ron W. MacKinley, minister of transportation and public works for Prince Edward Island; Angus MacIsaac, deputy premier, minister of economic development, and minister responsible for the Atlantic Gateway in Nova Scotia; and Paul Oram, minister of business for Newfoundland and Labrador.
While in India, Minister MacKay will meet in New Delhi and Mumbai with Indian government officials and key representatives of the Indian private sector.
The mission follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Canada’s federal and provincial governments to develop the Atlantic Gateway.