Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the two leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation between their countries across various areas of bilateral relations, with the Chief Minister expressing Punjab’s keenness to engage with Canada in several vital domains related to economic cooperation.
Pointing out that trade and commerce relations between the two were very low at the moment, the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to take steps to push investment by Canadian businesses in Punjab.
The two leaders agreed to collaborate through joint projects aimed at facilitating progress of both, Canada and India.
Capt Amarinder identified Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, Innovation and Start-Ups, as well as Skill Development as some of the areas in which Canada could contribute to the development of Punjab, whose people continue to play an important role in the progress of that country.
With a large Punjabi Diaspora settled in Canada, and some even finding place in Trudeau’s cabinet, the friendly relations between India and Canada continue to get strengthened over time, he added.
CAPT BATS FOR EXCHANGE PROGS, INVESTMENT IN SKIll DEV
In the field of Higher Education, the Chief Minister sought a student exchange programme as well as MoUs with universities and other institutions of learning, and regretted that the agreement signed with University of Saskatchewan had failed to materialise.
He also called for investments in Skill Development, suggesting that Canada could consider setting up Centre of Excellence, through its own businesses or university, within the Punjab Skills University. Canada could also aid in promoting emigration of trained Punjabi youth to Canada, he added.
Capt Amarinder suggested pulses, maize and livestock as areas of cooperation in terms of scientific research and
technology.
TRUDEAU APPRECIATES PUNJAB’S CYR’s PROG
The Chief Minister mentioned his government’s ‘Connect with Your Roots’, which he said could facilitate youth from Punjabi Diaspora in Canada to come and see Punjab, and urged the Canadian government to support the programme.
Both Trudeau and Sajjan appreciated the effort and agreed with the Chief Minister that it would help a whole new generation of youngsters who had never seen India.
BOUNTY OF GIFTS FOR TRUDEAUS
Chief Minister presented to the Canadian Prime Minister his own book ‘Honour and Fidelity – World War I’ and ‘History of Sikhs’ by Khushwant Singh.
He also presented a traditional Phulkari dupatta – an ethnic creation of Punjab’s famous weavers, and a shawl, to Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. Capt Amarinder presented several gifts to the Prime Minister’s three children.