India natural choice of Canada for tie-up in innovation: David Johnston

BANGALORE: Canada and India have a shared interest in fostering innovation and New Delhi was an ideal and natural choice for collaboration, Governor General of Canada David Johnston today said.

"Canada and India have a shared interest in fostering innovation, which can drive productivity, economic growth and development, and an improved global competitiveness," Johnston said at Canada-India panel discussion on Innovation, hosted by the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada at Infosys here.

He said: "That we are able to build strong and smart partnerships speaks to the friendship between our nations and the common goals that we share."

"There is so much we have to offer that can be mutually beneficial. For example, I know that various levels of government in India are trying to address the challenges of clean water, air quality, health care and public transportation... All of these are areas in which Canada has a strong record," he added.

Noting that both countries were already working together to solve many important issues, he cited the example of Grand Challenges Canada, which has funded 78 projects in India for a total investment of USD 15.4 million.

"In other words, Canada is an excellent partner of choice in innovation, science and technology, and for Canada, India is an ideal and natural choice for collaboration," he added.

Identifying people-to-people ties as the strength of the bond between the two nations, he said: "From the more than 1 million Canadians with origins in India, to the numerous co-operation agreements signed between Canadian and Indian institutions, to this discussion here today, there are so many ways our two peoples are working in concert."