Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Agriculture

05-February-2013 15:41 IST

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Shri Tariq Anwar today held a meeting with Mr Greg Selinger, Premier of Province of Manitoba, Canada and expressed India’s willingness for an enduring collaboration with Canada in all spheres of agriculture.

While welcoming the delegation from Manitoba here today the Minister said that during 2011-12, India’s agricultural exports to Canada were US $ 282.10 million. India’s principal agricultural exports to Canada are frozen shrimps and prawns, cashew nuts, rice, thickeners, cucumber and gherkins. The major item of export from Canada is pulses, of which a large percentage is sourced from Manitoba.

He added that in order to facilitate India-Canada bilateral trade and investment, an India-Canada CEOs forum has been set up and expressed the hope that Manitoba will take advantage of this Forum to enhance economic engagement with India.

India and Canada signed an MOU for cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors in 2009. Since then, two meetings of the Working Groups have been held and Work Plans have been finalised.

The Minister Shri Tariq Anwar said that Manitoba has vast competence in the field of food processing. India would be benefitted from their expertise in this area. Also Food Development Centre, Manitoba is in touch with Government of Bihar for establishing a Food Development Centre in Bihar.

The Minister further said that joint research activities could be a useful area for cooperation where Manitoba could take advantage of the agro-ecological diversity of India and the plethora of young scientists and students in National Agricultural Research System.

MP:DS:CP :India-Manitoba (5.2.2013)

MOU for cooperation in agriculture enables structured India-Canada collaboration, joint research, trade facilitation and food processing partnerships. A diplomatic framework for India-Canada agricultural cooperation was reaffirmed under the 2009 MOU, with Working Group Work Plans agreed to facilitate trade and investment. Emphasis was placed on enhancing food processing collaboration-including Manitoba's Food Development Centre engagement in Bihar-and pursuing joint research to leverage India's agro-ecological diversity and scientific workforce alongside Manitoba expertise.