Energy from the Earth - new media

Cover Story• Infrastructure (Delhi/Ahmedabad/Mumbai): The in both countries the predictability and protectionGovernment of India has identified the need for an needed to ensure increased two-way investment.investment of $800 billion in infrastructure, includingThe establishment of the CEO Forum was announcedroads, bridges, railways, ports and airports.at the first Canada-India ministerial dialogue in Ottawa• Information and communications technology (Delhi): in September 2010. The Forum will serve as aCanadian expertise in digital media and wireless mechanism for the private sector to help fostertechnologies, among other areas, can help India to increased trade and investment ties between the twoprovide communications access to people living in countries.remote areas of the country.The annual ministerial dialogue followed a bilateral• Education (Delhi): Canadian know-how can help meeting between ministers Fast and Sharma onbridge the large gap between the supply of and September 23, 2011, in New York City, during thedemand for educational facilities and address the United Nations General Assembly. The ministers willshortage of qualified educators.meet again at the World Trade Organization ministerialmeeting in Geneva to discuss how Canada and India• Manufacturing (Delhi/Pune): India is the world'scan deepen trade and investment ties and highlightsecond-fastest growing automotive market, afterprogress on negotiations toward a comprehensiveChina. Canada, as the third-largest exporter ofeconomic partnership agreement.automotive products after Japan and the United States,is well positioned to be part of this global value chain. Minister Fast welcomed the growing and forwardlookingrelationship developing between Canada andDuring his Delhi visit, Minister Fast met with hisIndia through education linkages. In addition tocounterpart, Anand Sharma, India's Minister formeeting India's Minister of Human ResourcesCommerce and Industry. The two ministers discussed aDevelopment Kapil Sibal and representatives from thewide range of trade-related issues and, in particular,University of Alberta, Ryerson University and Carletonagreed on the timing for the next round of negotiationsUniversity, Minister Fast also witnessed the signing ofon a comprehensive economic partnership agreementagreements between Carleton University and both TERI(CEPA). Both ministers had a constructive dialogueand Symbiosis International universities in India.today on a number of issues, including the CEPA andour foreign investment promotion and protection The Memorandums of Understanding signed betweenagreement.Carleton University and TERI and SymbiosisInternational universities will establish the exchange ofDuring their dialogue, the ministers agreed to the datesan unlimited number of undergraduate and graduatefor a third round of talks. These will take place in Delhistudents and provide opportunities for the exchange offrom 13 to 15 December 2011. An ambitious timetableexpertise and practical experience in the areas ofwas set for further negotiations that will aim fortechnology management, alternative energy,conclusions in 2013.economics, public policy and engineering.The ministers recognized the importance of movingWhile in Delhi, Minister Fast also attended the ribbonforwardexpeditiously with the establishment of thecutting ceremony for a new office of the InternationalCanada-India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum, asLanguage Schools of Canada (ILSC), which is partiallyrequested by Prime Minister Stephen Harper andfunded through a grant program administered byManmohan Singh. They took opportunity of theForeign Affairs and International Trade Canada. This isoccasion to name the organizations that will serve asthe first time a Canadian school has delivered Teachersthe secretariats for the CEO Forum. On the Canadianof English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)side, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives willtraining in India. The objective of the program is toprovide a range of services to support the work of thestandardize the training available to English teachersForum in Canada; on the Indian side support will beand to ensure consistent, quality instruction.provided by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).On October 13, 2011, Minister Fast and theThe ministers also reiterated their commitment toHonourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance,finalizing a foreign investment promotion andannounced the formation of an expert advisory panel toprotection agreement (FIPA) between the two countriesmake recommendations to the government on how toas soon as possible. A FIPA is designed to give investorsdevelop and implement an international education06Indo-Canadian Business October - December 2011