By IANS,
Shimla : Canada is keen to invest in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Monday.
“The Canadian government has shown keen interest in agriculture, horticulture, food processing, tourism, forest produce and hydropower generation in the state,” Dhumal told reporters after meeting the Canadian envoy to India here.
Dhumal told High Commissioner Stewart G. Beck and Consul General Scot Slessor that the state is keen for private investments.
“The state’s hydro potential can be harassed with the help of private players. Moreover, Canada can extend expertise in hydropower generation and in horticulture, mainly in apple,” the chief minister said.
Dhumal invited the Canadian entrepreneurs to invest in education and food processing sectors.
Beck said Canada and Himachal have similar geophysical conditions and both could benefit with the experience of each other. He said Canada would be keen in participating in different tourism-related activities in the hill state.
The economy of the hill state is highly dependent on horticulture as well as hydroelectric power and tourism with the annual fruit industry being worth about Rs.2,000 crore (Rs.20 billion).