'New trade and investment office to boost Indo-Canadian ties'

PHAGWARA: British Columbia Finance Minister Michael de Jong, who is on a visit to Punjab, today said the opening of a new trade and investment office in Chandigarh will strengthen economic ties between India and Canada.

British Columbia is a province in Canada. "Trade and Investment office (at Chandigarh) will boost the business prospects (between India and Canada)," Jong said while talking to reporters here.

A new trade and investment office will be opened at Canadian Consul-General in Chandigarh tomorrow.

Jong, who is on a diabetes awareness trip in the state, said there is a huge potential for mutual trade in sectors of energy, coal, technology, education, wood products, digital media ability, etc.

"Trade must go both ways and both the countries have to go a long way in this regard," he said.

On immigration, Jong said there are some "difficulties" in the matter of immigration even though India is the second largest source of immigration to Canada.

"Our biggest challenge in coming years is people. We need people in our economy but we need to have a fair system that encourage movement of people in both the countries," he said.

He said a new immigration process is on the anvil but he declined to elaborate on the same.

On economic slowdown, Jong said that slump did not have that adverse effect in Canada because of diversified trade.