Ontario, AP govts pact to share knowledge on climate change

The Andhra Pradesh government has signed an agreement with the administration of the Canadian province Ontario under which the two will share knowledge on climate change and also help deepen trade ties. The agreement was signed during the Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's visit to the state. Government of Ontario also signed an agreement with the Department of Science and Technology under which Ontario will provide USD 9,00,000 in funding over a two-year period to support three new collaborative research projects under Round 3 of the Ontario-India Collaboration Fund.

The funding would be matched by India. In all, 18 pacts worth USD 98 million were inked in sectors like higher education, clean energy, tourism and power between firms based in Ontario and their Indian counterparts. "Ontario government ministers signed its first MoU with the state of Andhra Pradesh.

This agreement will make it easier for the two regions to share knowledge about climate change and will support economic cooperation through joint activities such as seminars, trade missions and conferences," an official release said. "My trade mission to India is off to a positive and successful start. I have met Indian political leaders and business innovators to showcase Ontario's expertise in infrastructure, sustainable development and technology.

"Throughout the mission, I will continue to build these important relationships and help Ontario businesses to connect with Indian partners," Wynne said. Ontario-based Novo Plastics, which has developed the world's first plastic exhaust system for autos, announced a JV for production and selling in India. "We expect Indo-Canada bilateral trade to touch USD 15 billion in next 3-5 years from around USD 6 billion at present," Kam Rathee, Vice-Chairman, Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) who is accompanying Premier Wynne, told PTI.

Some JVs between Ontario's educational institutes and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) were also forged yesterday. The NSDC and five colleges of Ontario launched a joint initiative aiming at enhancing training programmes for Canadian and international standards while strengthening educational and economic ties between India and the province. Besides, an agreement was signed between Ontario's Seneca Collega and Max Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER)to provide training for an initial 3,500 medical-sales graduates.