Punjab govt enters agriculture cooperation deal with Alberta

The Punjab government today inked a joint statement on agriculture cooperation with Canada's Alberta province to work together in the agro-sector including agriculture research, animal husbandry and agri-food endeavours.
State's Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Manmeet Singh Bhullar, Minister for Human Services and Government of Alberta in the presence of Alison Redford, Premier of the province of Alberta signed the Joint Statement here, an official release said.
Under the pact, Punjab and Alberta will work together to identify areas of common interest and to explore opportunities for scheduling joint-exchange programmes for Scientists to share their expertise.
Describing Punjab as the food basket of India, Majithia said: "Both Punjab and Alberta being agro-based economies can prosper by sharing innovative agriculture and food processing technologies and experience."

He said Alberta has a reputation for high quality food and has successful programs and systems in place which they can share. These systems can help to increase productivity, reduce spoilage and conserve precious non-renewable resources while reducing the impact on environment.
He added that opportunities exist in several key areas including infrastructure, logistics and transportation also. Alberta can assist by facilitating industry involvement to share expertise in these key areas for mutually beneficial trade, said he.

Speaking on the occasion, Alison Redford, Premier of the Canadian province of Alberta said that their delegation is on a trade mission to India from 11-17 January 2014.

The week-long mission includes a visit to Amritsar on January 13-14 and it would explore areas of deeper cooperation, notably in the energy and agriculture sectors and promote Alberta as an investment destination.
"Our trade mission to India is an important occasion to build on Alberta's strong relationship with one of the world's fastest-growing economies," she said.
She said it would promote food security and food production and added that Recognising Canada-India MoU in Agriculture Cooperation, Alberta and Punjab now announce their intentions to work under the overall ambit of that MoU signed between India and Canada in 2009 for cooperation in Agriculture and allied Sectors.

She hoped for significant positive results, benefiting the producers, food processors and consumers of Alberta and Punjab.
"Purpose of the visit of our delegation is to explore all possible avenues that can foster closer and stronger relationship between Punjab and Alberta," said Manmeet Singh Bhullar. He said that Alberta is interested in developing strategic, reliable and trade friendly relationships and is actively seeking new growing markets for agri-food industry.