Canada keen to strengthen trade ties with Vadodara
A Canadian delegation was in Gujarat's Vadodara cityon Friday to meet top business and industry players in a moveto strengthen trade relations with tier-2 cities of India.
After the meeting, Consul and Head of Trade &Investment at the Consulate General of Canada in Mumbai,Carlos Rojas-Arbulu told that the Indo-Canadian BusinessChamber is also contemplating to open a representative officein Vadodara to boost trade ties with the city.
Aiming to tap potential in areas of education,Information Technology and manufacturing sector, the Canadagovernment is eyeing to enhance two-way trade with Vadodara,the third largest city in Gujarat, he said.
"It's the time to tap the potential of cities likeVadodara that already has ties with Canada. These ties can befurther enhanced and new ones can be explored," he said.
He said information and communications technology isone of the top priority areas of the Canadian government,followed by automotive sector, agriculture, clean technologyand infrastructure, among others.
"There is immense potential for Vadodara tocollaborate with Canada in areas of education, digitisation,food and clean tech as well as bi-lateral trade between smalland medium businesses," he said.
The bilateral trade between India and Canada is about$10 billion that is estimated to grow to $60 billion in thenext five years, the envoy said.
Canada also sees a huge opportunity to associate withVadodara in the field of education, which is directlyco-related to the growth of industries in the region, he said.
"In this context, Vadodara hits all the right chordswhen it comes to doing business with Canada. We alsorealise that India's drive towards becoming USD five trillioneconomy rests on the shoulders of important cities likeVadodara, and Canada can help the city in realising its fullpotential," the official said. CORGK GK