A Canadian delegation led by Premier of Saskatchewan Mr. Brad Wall met Union Minister of Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh here today. Welcoming the delegation Shri Singh said that bilateral relations between the two countries are touching new horizons. The State visit of Prime Minister Harper to India in November 2012 provided a necessary ignition for warming up already strengthened relationship between the two countries. Shri Radha Mohan Singh briefed the delegation about the cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector since the signing of an MoU in 2009.
On the request of Canada, India is having an interim arrangement for import of Peas and Pulses under which these commodities are fumigated with Methyl on their arrival at Indian Ports to mitigate risk of quarantine nematodes since 2004. This practice is being extended from time to time and the current one has been extended upto 31st March, 2015 to facilitate smooth trade between the two countries, Shri Singh said.
The Minister said that India is in need of low cost/energy efficient and ecological sustainable cold chain technologies requiring an estimated investment of US $ 2 billion. Radha Mohan Singh said that India would like Canada to increase their imports from India because Indian exports to agricultural commodities to Canada were of the order of US $ 345.71 million while imports from Canada were of the order of US $ 771.86 million. Both the countries agreed to further boost their trade relations in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.