Province of Ontario signs business deals worth $3.7 million with Punjab and Haryana

By Vinay Sharma
CHANDIGARH: The Province of Ontario in Canada signed business deals on Wednesday in the States of Punjab and Haryana in India, valued at approximately $3.7 million. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, Canada — who is on a trade mission to India — also met with the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter, and Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal.

With the State of Punjab, the Premier signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing the relationship between Ontario and India and strengthening commercial ties across key sectors including infrastructure, communications technology (ICT), advanced manufacturing, agriculture and education. With the State of Haryana, the Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding on economic coorperation.

“It was a pleasure to be here today in the States of Punjab and Haryana,” said Premier Wynne, following her meetings with the leaders of Punjab and Haryana. “Ontario and India have many similar priorities — including infrastructure, sustainable development, clean energy and agriculture — making us natural partners. The MOUs that we signed with Haryana and Punjab will help us work together on projects that will generate economic growth for both India and Ontario.”

In all, seven agreements were signed. Representatives from Indian businesses and institutions and members of the Ontario delegation participated in a signing ceremony in Chandigarh and announced several new agreements, including- - INSOL and Toronto, Ontario-based Seneca colleges signed a $2.9-million MOU to provide health and medical training for youth as part of a 10-year plan to train over 83,000 students throughout India, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur College and Oakville, Ontario-based Sheridan College Signed an agreement for cooperation on academic exchanges and partnerships between the two institutions.

The Stallion Institute of International Studies and Ottawa, Ontario-based Algonquin College Agreed to facilitate opportunities for students beginning their studies at the Stallion Institute to continue their studies at Algonquin College.

“The agreements signed today are a testament to India’s recognition of Ontario’s diversity and highly skilled workforce,” said Michael Chan, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade, who is accompanying the Premier on the mission. “We not only share a commitment to invest in sustainable infrastructure and urban renewal projects, but we also share an interest in developing our key business sectors. This continued collaboration will generate future investment and trade opportunities that will benefit Ontario and India for years to come.”

Ontario, Canada’s business environment is designed for global success, and Ontario is a North American hub for international investment and trade. It offers direct access to the $20-trillion NAFTA market; a multicultural workforce; streamlined regulations; a low-risk investment climate; competitive business costs; and a great quality of life.

World-leading companies have invested billions to start or expand their operations in Ontario, including Honda, Magna, Sodexo, Alcatel-Lucent, AXA, DuPont, MDS, Huawei, IBM and Dell. Ontario has a population of over 13 million (the largest of any province in Canada), generates 37 per cent of Canada’s GDP, and boasts an export-oriented GDP that is larger than that of Belgium, Switzerland or any of the Scandinavian countries.