NIK BUREAU

CHANDIGARH:

Haryana and the Province of Ontario, Canada, have entered into a partnership to pursue ‘common goals as Sister States’.

They have signed an agreement and decided to designate Nodal Agencies from their sides for timely and effective communication on matters of common interest.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  was signed with Ontario on Wednesday  to further enhance and strengthen economic relations, Facilitate Knowledge Transfer and encourage ongoing dialogue and cooperation and collaborations in various fields.

It was signed by Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HSIDC) Managing Director, Sudhir Rajpal, on behalf of the Haryana Government and Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Helen Angus, on behalf of the Province of Ontario, in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Industries Minister Abhimanyu, Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne and Premier of Prince Edward Island Wade MacLauchlan.

Mr.Khattar said that his regime was organising ‘Happening Haryana Global Investors’ Summit-2016’ in Gurgaon on March 7 and 8  to woo investors, and invited Ms. Kathleen Wynne, to participate in the event.

He said that this was for the first time that nodal agencies were being designated. Under the agreement, activities would be undertaken to facilitate knowledge transfer in the areas of museum development, cultural preservation and exchange. Collaborations would be encouraged in the fields of education and skill development, start-up ecosystem, food processing, science and technology, low carbon development and aerospace, besides other sectors.

Under the MoU, domestic information seminars or webinars would be organised to build awareness of opportunities and educate domestic companies in Haryana and Ontario on doing business in the Partner Market. Assistance would be given to companies in connecting with peers who are experienced in doing business in the partner market.

Haryana and Ontario Governments would coordinate and lead trade missions  with a focus on priority sectors to help companies gain access to the partner market. They would endeavour to provide in-market support to their respective trade mission delegates for the duration of travel abroad.

The two Governments would host incoming delegations from the partner market in order to facilitate partnerships between companies and government officials from both places.

The Canadian delegation included Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs Lynn Betzner, Member of Ontario Legislative Assembly Harinder Takhar, Consul General of Canada, Chandigarh Christopher Gibbins, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Premier Karim Bardeesy, Senior Advisor to the Premier Alex Phillips, Ontario Representative in India Jens Michael Schaal and Director, International Relations Leslie Marchant.

Others present on the occasion included Chief Secretary D.S. Dhesi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister R.K. Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Information Technology Keshni Anand Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Irrigation Ram Niwas, Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Country Planning P. Raghavendra Rao, Principal Secretary, Industries Devender Singh, Principal Secretary and Director General, Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Abhilaksh Likhi, Director-cum-Special Secretary, Industries and Commerce Vivek Atray and Trade Commissioner, Canadian Embassy Gurbans Sobti.