The strong 32% growth in bilateral trade to $8.25 billion in 2015-16 compared with $6.4 billion in the previous year is a clear indication that India and Canada’s economic relations are on an upswing. Various sectors including agriculture, education and renewable energy have been identified by both sides to open up more avenues of growth. With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expected to visit India this year, says Nadir Patel, the high commissioner of Canada to India.
In terms of ‘Make in India’, we do make in India. Several Canadian companies including McCain Foods and Bombardier Transportation are present here. Building on the recent agreements, more Canadian companies are planning to come to India to study the development of aerospace parks and joint ventures, and participate in ‘Make in India’ manufacturing initiatives in the near future, he said.
On skill development, he shared that “we subscribe to skilling India, in 2015 the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) signed 13 MoUs with 12 Canadian educational institutions, including nine colleges.”
The objectives are for starting Academies of Excellence for training trainers and assessors, and to create Transnational Standards with Canadian Sector Skill Councils. Each Canadian college will be paired with an Indian partner that’s focused on a specific sector, such as aviation, healthcare or agriculture. The Indian partners will pay the colleges for their services which could include curriculum development, education for Indian trainers and assistance with accreditation systems. The colleges will work through centres of excellence overseas that have been established by India’s National Skill Development Corporation.
Note : The write-up is based on the press interview of Nadir Patel, the high commissioner of Canada to India by Huma Siddiqui
