Canada cool on outsourcing

Showcasing Canada in the 10th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) indicates the eagerness of that country to develop its exchange and trade and commerce with India, according to Brian Dickson, deputy high commissioner of the Canadian high commission.

Dickson told Business Standard that the volume of trade and commerce between the two countries was rising significantly and more and more delegations were visiting India.

He said Canandian did not have any reservations on issues like business process outsourcing.

"Canadians do not think that outsourcing takes away jobs from natives of Canada. This is a bilateral process and we are seeing possibility of job generation due to the Indian institutions investing in Canada", said Dickson.

The two countries were working on a joint partnership plan between governments to address issues like strengthening trade relationships through consultation on strategic issues, as well as investments and cultural exchange.

Approximately one out of every 30 persons in Canada was from South Asia. India contributed around 3 per cent of the Canadian population, quipped the deputy high commissioner.

" There is immense opportunity of future partnership between the two countries. Cultural interactions provides a platform for establishing contacts between Canada and India ", he added.

For the first time in Kolkata, film buffs will have the opportunity to see as many as 10 Canadian award winning films, including a special retrospective on Canada's well known director-producer team Niv Fichman and Don McKellar of Rhombus Media.

The 10 films would include a retrospective series of five films by Niv Fichman depicting the life, culture, history and several other aspects of Canada, informed Brian.

The Canadian films will be showcased at KIFF.