Canada will welcome high-skilled Indians

NEW DELHI: Canada will welcome high-skilled Indian professionals as the country seeks best minds in the world to become a global innovation hub, Canadian minister for international trade François-Philippe Champagne has told ET.

"Canada wants to emerge as a global technological and innovation hub," said Champagne, who was in Delhi last week. "We want to attract best minds in the world including those from India. We want to create a win-win situation for both our countries."

The minister's comment comes amid moves in the US to impose curbs on visas for skilled workers.

India is among top source country for permanent residencies in Canada. In 2016 alone, over 32,000 Indians were given permanent residencies by the North American country. In 2015, over 39,000 Indians were given PR status by Ottawa.

The Canadian parliament has 19 MPs of Indian origin and this includes some top cabinet ministers. Indians comprise 3.8% of Canada’s population. Canada is also emerging as a favourite destination for Indian students.

Pointing out that India will be Canada's springboard for rest of South Asia and Southeast Asia, Champagne said trade creates growth and growth, in turn, creates jobs. "India and Canada are therefore looking to set a joint time-frame for CEPA (comprehensive economic partnership agreement) and the two sides are looking to conclude investment protection treaty soon," the minister said.

During his visit, Champagne held wide-ranging discussions with commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman and finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Trade between India and Canada rose to $6.2 billion in 2015-16 from $4.8 billion in 2012-13.

Over past two years, Canada has become a big source of investments for India, including pension funds investments.

"Two-way trade and foreign direct investment figures between Canada and India have increased dramatically in the last couple of years and we expect this trend to continue well into the future. US-Canada bilateral trade on a daily basis is $ 2.4 billion. Indo-Canadian trade should also try to set such ambitious figure," the minister said.

Champagne's visit to India is the fifth in the last seven months by a minister of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet, a reflection of the importance Canada attaches to its ties with India.