Canada To Bear 85% Cost Of Rajmahal Mines Expansion

Canada has agreed to bear 85 per cent cost of the Rajmahal Coal Mines expansion plan as part of the wider agreement between the two countries to increase mutual cooperation in the fields of offshore fisheries, coal and mines.

This understanding was reached in the meetings, which visiting Canadian fisheries and ocean minister Herb Dhaliwal had, here, today with agriculture minister Ajit Singh and coal and mines minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

The Rajmahal expansion plan is estimated to cost around $350 million. India intends to negotiate with Canada to seek 100 per cent financial support for this project.

A joint Indo-Canadian working group has already been set up to promote cooperation in the coal sector. Feasibility of a similar group in the mines sector was discussed today.

In the meeting with the Indian agriculture minister, Dhaliwal agreed to boost cooperation in offshore fishing and study prospects of joint ventures in saline aqua culture and sea-bed mapping. Both Dhaliwal and Singh concurred that there was tremendous scope for cooperation in fisheries research as well.

Singh told Dhaliwal and his visiting team that India had a vast coastline and a variety of fishes, offering vast scope for investment. Fresh water prawn cultivation had caught on in a big way in the north Indian states. These could be exported to Canada.

Canadian minister, on the other hand, urged India to join the UN. Convention on Fisheries that has already been ratified by the required number of 30 countries. He said Canada could offer its expertise in deep offshore fishing to India. He also urged India to avail of the Canadian expertise in food packaging products.

Besides, Dhaliwal said both Canada and India shared interest in removal of export subsidy on wheat as both the countries were efficient wheat producers.