(Ottawa) – Carleton University played host to two key India government ministers as Canada launched the start of negotiations on the feasibility of a comprehensive economic agreement to triple bilateral trade between the two countries.
Indian Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who met with International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan to establish a formal trade discourse, attended a Sept. 25 roundtable at Carleton with top business leaders, academics and diplomats.
The previous week, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde sat in on a discussion co-hosted by Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte and the Hon. John Manley, president and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE).
“We wanted to bring people together,” said Manley, a Carleton graduate. “For some, it’s a first step; for others, it’s one of many steps to build relationships and exchange ideas. All of these are valuable.”
In early September, Carleton launched the Canada India Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy. Unique in Canada, the centre will raise awareness of bilateral studies and public diplomacy and develop initiatives to build a better understanding of both countries.
“It will be very helpful,” said Mr. Shinde. “One of the considerations (for us) was sending some students to take advantage of the excellence in this university.”
Shinde credited the forum sponsored by Carleton and the CCCE for providing leads on future projects and partnerships.
“These are very experienced people,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity – the investment there in India.”
Fen Hampson, director of the renowned Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, said Carleton’s expertise in international trade and investment make it a natural gathering place for such high-level discussions.
“We look forward to hosting more of these events and contributing to stronger relations between India and Canada,” said Hampson. “Movement on the trade front between the two countries certainly allows us to make a bigger impact.”
About the Canada India Centre:
The centre will bring together key members of the academic, business and public policy communities in both countries to provide current and comprehensive discussion, research, analysis and information on Indo-Canadian relations, with special emphasis on trade, investment, commercial relations, foreign policy, science, environment, technology and international security.
It will be associated with several faculties, and co-located within the internationally-recognized Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, the School of Public Policy and Administration and the Sprott School of Business.
The centre will provide opportunities for many co-operative ventures. Carleton has just signed a major agreement with the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani.
The agreement will allow for faculty and student exchanges, internships and joint research projects, especially in international health environment and engineering. A Carleton professor is already on site at BITS, while two of professors from BITS have been at Carleton since May.
For more information:
Lin Moody
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 8705