Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said while the focus of his country's relations with India has shifted from aid in the 1950s to trade today, it was important to ensure that greater bilateral trade and investment benefits all, especially the poor.
Speaking at the India Canada Business Session organised by the industry body CII along with Canada-India Business Council and Indo-Canadian Business Chamber, Mr. Trudeau pointed out that so far “too many people” have not been beneficiaries of trade and investment. He emphasised that “economic growth must benefit all...trade and investment must benefit the poor.”
Terming democracy and diversity as common factors for India and Canada, he said, “If you want to progress as a community, you should not just tolerate diversity but champion it.”
“Diversity, including of religion and gender, enriches us, make our communities stronger and more resilient,” he said, adding that diversity opens societies to new ways of thinking and spurs innovation. In this regard, the Prime Minister cited Toronto in Canada and Bengaluru in India as examples of multi-cultural cities that are also hi-tech hubs.
He said Canada and India need to capitalise on people-to-people ties, and leverage business and knowledge networks.
This week alone saw business deals of over $1billion between companies of both the nations that will in turn create many good jobs, he said. To improve business ties, he also referred to the benefits of Canada’s ‘startup visa program’ to start businesses in Canada, and its ‘global skills strategy’ to help firms recruit and bring talent to Canada at a short notice.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Food Processing Industries Minister, thanked Mr. Trudeau for bringing with him a huge delegation including senior Ministers, especially “those members from my community who have done us proud in your land”. She also thanked the Canadian premier for “all the support you have given to our community”. The Minister then said food processing was a major sector with huge scope for collaboration between India and Canada.
