Khurshid, Ed Fast hold discussions on Indo-Canada ties

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid met Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast in Ottawa during which they held a productive exchange of views on key areas of common interest between the two sides, including food security, energy security, infrastructure, innovation and trade and investment.

During the meeting held yesterday, the two leaders recognized that, with more than one million Canadians of Indian origin, vibrant and long-standing people-to-people ties are among the greatest strengths of the Canada-India relationship.

Canada and India are negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to create jobs, growth and prosperity in both countries. Both ministers agreed that a CEPA could be a building block to expanding the long-standing commercial relationship between both countries.

The ministers also expressed support for the work of the Canada-India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum. The CEO Forum, which comprises top Canadian and Indian business representatives, was launched last year to assist the private sector in fostering increased trade and investment between Canada and India.

India continues to be a priority market for Canada. Canada has identified core economic opportunities in India in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure and education sectors.

In 2012, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and India exceeded $5.2 billion. As of July 2013, bilateral trade is up almost 21.2 percent over the first seven months of 2012.

Khurshid also met with Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird yesterday in Toronto.