Annual Report 2011 - 2012

Annual Report 2011 - 2012
established a Global Disease Detection (GDD) Regional
Center in New Delhi to support emerging disease detection,
pandemic influenza preparedness and response, laboratory
containment systems, and training and capacity building.
The US Agency for International Development and the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are implementing
several activities under a new Health Partnership Programme
Agreement, focusing on technical assistance to strengthen
India's health system through the public and private sectors.
Culture: The Indian Council for Cultural Relations, in
collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Washington and
the Kennedy Centre, organised a three-week long mega festival
'Maximum India' in March 2011 that showcased the work
and talents of renowned Indian artists, including Dr L
Subramaniam, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Malavika Sarukkai,
Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and several others.
Consular Dialogue: The 1st Meeting of the Joint Working
Group on Consular Issues was held in Washington in July
2011. The two sides discussed various measures for aligning
visa policies to facilitate movement of professionals, scientists
and businessmen and addressed issues such as satisfactory
placement of students affected by the Tri-valley University
visa fraud case. The two sides also discussed protocol courtesies
at the port of entry to high-level visitors, challenges pertaining
to illegal immigration, extradition and trans-national
adoption of children as also legal and other resources
available to spouses of Indian origin who become victims of
domestic violence.
Women Empowerment Dialogue: Ms Melanne Verveer,
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, met Shri
D K Sikri, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Welfare,
in New Delhi on 19 July, 2011 to review progress on issues of
early childhood care and education, market-preparedness
of Self Help Groups, training of women for grassroots
governance, domestic violence against women and nonconventional
energy sources.
Canada
The momentum of bilateral relationship was sustained
through regular interactions at political and official levels
during the year 2011. The Canadian federal budget for 2011-
12 carried a specific reference for collaboration with India
under Canada's Global Commerce Strategy stating that the
Canadian government is developing a more targeted
engagement strategy to forge closer ties with India across
different sectors. A key highlight was the keen interest of the
Canadian provinces to explore possibilities of cooperation
with India.
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During the year, technical negotiations for a Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India
commenced. Significant progress was made towards the
conclusion of Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement
(BIPA). The negotiations for a bilateral Social Security
Agreement (SSA) and MoU on Transportation were
concluded. The drafts for an Audio-visual Co-Production
Agreement were exchanged. MoUs in the field of mining and
geology were signed with the provinces of Saskatchewan and
British Columbia. During the visit of Secretary, Civil Aviation,
the Agreement on Air Services was expanded, including
additional code-share for Air Canada and fare
rationalisation for cargo aircraft. Canada supported India's
candidatures for the external auditor of IAEA (CAG), Joint
Inspection Unit (Ambassador Gopinath) and CERD
(Ambassador Lahiri). National Security Advisor Shri Menon
held discussions with his Canadian counterpart Mr Stephen
Rigby, on the sidelines of the 47th Munich Security
Conference in February 2011.
Year of India in Canada: The Prime Minister of Canada,
Mr Stephen Harper, inaugurated the Year of India in Canada
2011 and also officiated at its closing ceremony. Over 100
multi-sectoral events were held all across Canada, coordinated
on the Indian side by ICCR. These included cultural
performances of all genre, including classical- instrumental,
vocal and dance, dance drama, folk, fusion, rock,
Bollywood; writers' festivals, film festivals, eminent lecture
series, exhibition by Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi
authors, business events, Made in India show, Education
Summit, Innovation Summit, mini-PBD, India Chairs,
Mahatma Gandhi statue, Tagore Anniversary and MoU for
India Chair at the Carleton University.
Education and Innovation: Minister of State for Human
Resources Development visited Canada for participation in
the bilateral Education Summit and Innovation Summit in
June 2011. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird
co-inaugurated the Education Summit, which was attended
by 21 Vice Chancellors of eminent Indian Universities and
Presidents and Vice-Presidents of 23 Canadian universities/
institutions. The Canadian government in its budget
announced special provisions for the promotion of
educational and economic tie-ups with India and also
announced a fund of $ 12 million for a Canada-India
Research Centre.
The first India-Canada Innovation Summit was held at the
Canada-India Centre of Excellence at Carleton University.
As a follow-up, high level delegations from DRDO led by Dr
Saraswat and Ministry of Agriculture, led by Shri
Gangadharan, Secretary Animal Husbandry and Fisheries
visited Canada for technology tie ups. The Commerce