Chandigarh, January 13 (Kulbir Singh Kalsi):- Sharing that the government of Canada aims at trade relations not only at the national level but also business at the province/state levels, Nawal Bajaj, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), said, “Canada has three focus areas- food, agri and post harvest processing; energy, and international education, specifically with Punjab and Haryana which share common synergy with Canada.”

Bajaj, who was leading the 30-member trade delegation, on a trade mission toIndia, was speaking during the interactive session on “Indo- Canadian Bilateral Trade” organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, here at PHD House. Bajaj said, “The trade file between the two countries has moved big time and such interactions and trade delegation exchanges as these go a long way in achieving major boosts in the trade co-operation. Both the countries have jointly set a target of moving trade to $ 15 billion by 2015 from the present $ 5billion.”

Dalip Sharma, Director, PHD Chamber said, “The inbuilt complimentary of the economies of both our countries offers innumerable opportunities and it is important that we build on the existing strong relations.” Ashok Khanna, Past President, PHD Chamber said, “There is a need for greater synergy of efforts between the business communities of both the countries to accelerate the two way cooperation.The trade between India and Canada is two way and the future prospects for trade and investment between our countries are significant.”

Major items of indian exports to Canada includes medicines, garments, diamonds, chemicals, gems and jewellery, petroleum oils, sea food, engineering goods, marble and granite, knitted garments, rice, electric equipment, plastic products, etc. Major items of Canada’s export to India includes pulses, fertilizers, newsprint, aircrafts & aviation equipment, diamonds, copper ores and concentrates, bituminous coal, wood pulp, nickel, unwrought aluminum, asbestos,  cameras, lumber, ferrous waste, etc.