By Gurmukh Singh
Toronto, Oct 2 (IANS) India and Canada have agreed to work on a time-bound action plan to push their annual trade from $4.6 billion to higher levels.

To boost their economic partnership, the two sides discussed civilian nuclear cooperation, investment promotion and protection, high-level visits between the two countries, and India-Canada CEO roundtable meetings.

Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar concluded the sixth round of annual talks with his Canadian counterparts in Ottawa Wednesday. Khullar, who led the Indian delegation comprising commerce ministry officials and those of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, held extensive talks with Canadian Deputy Trade Minister Louis Levesque and his senior officials.

The two sides agreed to expand their relationship in areas such as agriculture, environment and pollution control, aerospace, the auto sector, mineral resources, science and technology, and culture.

It was also agreed to have a time-bound action plan to take bilateral trade from the existing level of $4.6 billion to higher levels ‘given the opportunities and potential that exists between the two countries,’ said a statement by the Indian high commission in Ottawa.

As the two countries plan to take their ties to “strategic levels”, Khullar also met Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement, International Trade Minister Stockwell Day and Deputy Natural Resources Minister Cassie Doyle.

Khullar also met CEOs of Canadian companies such as SNC Lavalin, Bombardier, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Bennett and Jones, and the Export Development Corporation.

Since 2003, India and Canada have held annual trade talks alternatively in Delhi and Ottawa to boost their trade ties which suffered as Canada imposed sanctions on India after its nuclear blasts in 1974 and 1998.

Canada’s major exports to India include fertilizers, gold, newsprint and vegetables. India’s major exports to Canada are organic chemicals, precious metals, diamonds and jewellery and knit and woven apparel.

(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)