Canada-India free trade pact by 2013

TORONTO, Apr 7 (The Economic Times): Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement has reiterated his country's commitment to signing a free trade agreement with India by 2013. Speaking at a roundtable organised by the Canada India Foundation (CIF) Tuesday before the May 2 parliamentary election, Clement said if his Conservative Party's government is returned it would reintroduce its "India engagement initiatives" presented at the last budget. Apart from the CIF, representatives from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce , the IIT Alumni Association, TiE, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Asia Pacific Foundation, the University of Waterloo and experts on Canada-India relations also joined the minister at the roundtable. During his interaction with top Ind-Canadian bodies, the Canadian industry minister made special mention of the proposed India-focused $12 million chair under the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) programme. The chair was mooted in the last Canadian budget. To be called Canada-India Excellence Research Chair, its objective will be to bring the best minds from India to Canada to conduct groundbreaking research. The India-specific chair is one of the 20 mooted under the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) programme to "attract international researchers of the highest calibre who can positively contribute to Canada's global competitiveness and future prosperity."