India Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his two-day Canada blitz visit in the nation’s capital.
Throughout the day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s twitter account stayed active informing followers of the moves he and Modi made – signing new initiatives and solidifying bilateral relations between the two countries.
One of these initiatives included an announcement that Saskatoon-based Canadian company, Cameco, would supply over seven million pounds of uranium concentrate to India over the next five years. India will use this supply for its generation of electricity. The contractual agreement is a result of the Canada-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement established in September 2013.
“Canada and India have a longstanding and mutual interest in expanding our trade relationship, particularly in the area of energy cooperation,” said Harper in an official press statement. “This contract is a clear signal that our countries are open for expanding business partnerships together.”
As the day continued, more five other significant initiatives were finalized between Harper and Modi – all that will allow for more collaboration between the two nations in areas of civil aviation, railway transportation, education and skills development, space, social security and maternal, newborn and child health.
In the areas of economy, trade and investment, spotlight was placed on Canada’s prioritization of India in its Global Markets Action Plan.
Perhaps most important to members of Canada’s Indian diaspora, Modi and Harper agreed to non-stop air links between the two countries resuming as of November 2015.
Other Highlights:
- First official bilateral visit to Canada by Indian Prime Minister since 1973
- Modi and Harper met at the G-20 Summit in Australia in 2014
- Harper visited India in November 2012, 2009
- India has a market of 1.2 billion people; predicted economic growth of 7.5 per cent in 2015
- India is important source of Canada’s immigration and foreign students; Canada’s second largest trading partner in South Asia
iPolitics.ca photo gallery of PM Modi in Ottawa
