Canadian province keen to contribute to PM Modi's' Make in India' initiatives

New Delhi: Canada's Saskatchewan Province, whose exports to India stood at over a billion Canadian dollars in 2013, has said that it is very keen to be a part of and to contribute to PM Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiatives.

Having just returned from a ten-day, three-nation visit to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji, Prime Minister Modi is convincingly of the view that the world is looking at India with renewed respect and immense enthusiasm, and this view has also been wholeheartedly endorsed and accepted by Saskatchewan Province Premier Brad Wall.

In an exclusive interview given to ANI earlier this week on the sidelines of an eight-day-long visit to India, which concludes on Sunday, Premier Wall said that he saw enormous potential for enhancing economic and commercial ties between Saskatchewan and India.

In 2013, Saskatchewan exports were worth 999 million Canadian dollars, which was an increase of 69 per cent since 2007. Imports from India, on the other hand, were an estimated 40 million Canadian dollars, an increase of 244 per cent since 2007.

India is Saskatchewan Province's second largest source of immigrants.

"The reaction to this visit has been positive. We were here three years ago, and this (India) is our most important market for exports. Sixty-three percent of all Canada's exports to India comes from our province, even though we are just three percent of Canada's population. In its fuel, food and fertilization that we are talking about here, two of the three we already have a very robust relationship with the Indian market," Premier Wall told ANI.

" Agriculture is very important; 79 percent of your lentils that you import come from Saskatchewan. Sixty-one percent of peas come from our area," he added.

He said that Saskatchewan is hoping to develop a relationship around uranium.

"India has a reputable and safe civilian nuclear programme, and the one that is expanding. So, now we are hoping that with the civil nuclear corporation agreement between India and Canada, companies that buy uranium, 15 percent of the world's uranium, they can make some sales here (India)," Premier Wall said.

Recalling his visit to India three years ago, Premier Wall said he was confident of finding and achieving success in his dealings with the Indian Government.

Responding specifically to Prime Minister Modi's desire for attracting more foreign direct investment through his "Make in India" initiatives, Premier Wall said, "When we were here three years ago, we were in Gujarat, and I had a chance to meet then chief minister Modi, and we sensed the dynamism of the state, the economic optimism that was there. We believe that the trade relationship has to be mutual; we can't just sell to our friends and customers. We also need to buy and our companies need to invest here. So, I think this message from Prime Minister Modi will be well received."

He said he endorsed Mr. Modi's objective of strengthening trade and commerce and drawing industry to India.

"Since 2007, our exports to India are up 69 percent, but our imports from India are up 240 percent. So, there is a momentum there. I am also aware that one of our post trading companies that is now looking at establishing handling facility, a processing facility and they would like to do it here. I think the message from the Modi Government and their commitment to a good business environment will help, and it is good, if post-trading partners are growing," the visiting dignitary said.

"Even if some investment is here, if overall, the economy is growing in India; that is a good thing. That means there is more in the middle class, they might need more lentils in the LOPs. I think the Prime Minister is absolutely on the right track, and overall, it is not bad for our trade, and is good for our exports in a long run," he added.

On the issue of immigration, Premier Wall described the contribution of the expatriate community in his province as amazing.

"I had a chance to meet the Indo-Canadian community before I came, and I asked them for advice for things that I should do here, and what I should not do. We have an amazing Indo-Canadian community - they are entrepreneurs, engineers and doctors. My son's best friend and room-mate in university is from Bhopal, and this is the good news about India's reality. It is more than just a transaction or a trade, it is about people," he said.

"There are a number of students from India who study in Saskatchewan, and I hope that the people understand that their expatriates are building our economy. They are great ambassadors for India and they are sharing their wonderful culture with our own folks back at home," he added.

Premier Wall has been in India leading an agriculture trade mission from November 16 to 23. He has had meetings with a cross-section of Indians, including captains of industry, in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Muzaffarnagar and Chandigarh.

The focus of his visit has been to explore areas of deeper cooperation in energy, agri-food and innovation.

During his visit, he delivered keynote addresses at a reception organized by the Canada-India Business Council in Mumbai and at a luncheon with businessmen in Ahmedabad. He also spoke about the importance of potash during a meeting with about 400 farmers in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, and addressed the opening ceremony of the Agro-Tech 2014 in Chandigarh.