Canada India Foundation presents Report from Canada India Energy Forum to
Canadian Government; CIF Congratulates Canadian Government on Key Initiatives
regarding India

TORONTO , Oct. 7 /CNW/ - CIF is pleased to announce that it has presented to the Government of Canada its report on the first-of-its-kind Canada India Energy Forum organized by CIF and held in April 2009 . The Forum brought together senior business executives, public sector officials and policy makers from the energy sectors of both countries to exchange ideas on strategies for engagement and sector specific market intelligence. The Indian delegation was led by Hon. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Economic Planning Commission of India and included companies such as Tata Power, ONGC and Suzlon Energy, while the Canadian participants included Hon. Lisa Raitt , Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. George Smitherman , Ontario Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Hon. Sandra Pupatello, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade and CEOs and senior executives from companies such as Cameco, Bruce Power , Enbridge, Ontario Power Generation, Process Research Ortech and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. The report, signed by the Co-Chairs of the Energy Forum, Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan and Manoj Pundit, presents key points of information presented during the forum and prescribes a high profile task force comprising representatives of public and private sector organizations to formulate a plan for bilateral energy collaboration within the renewable, nuclear and fossil fuel industries. Earlier this past summer, in receiving the report on behalf of the Government of India , both Minister Raitt and Dr. Ahluwalia pledged their support for CIF's efforts in advancing energy collaboration and noted that Ministries of their respective Governments working in the energy sphere were keen to advance bilateral interests in partnership with Canada India Foundation.

In numerous submissions to the Canadian Government over a two year period, CIF has consistently maintained the need for Canada to develop greater interaction with economically progressive Indian states such as Gujarat. CIF is extremely pleased to congratulate the Harper Government on restoring relations with the State of Gujarat, which was demonstrated through the recent opening of a new trade office in the City of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Hon. Stockwell Day, Canada's Minister of International Trade, presided at a ceremony in Ahmedabad commemorating the opening of the office, where Deepak Ruparell, CIF Regional Convener for Ontario, was also invited to speak. "Gujarat boasts some of India's greatest business success stories including serving as home to the world's largest grass roots oil refinery and the world's largest diamond processing industry," stated Aditya Jha, CIF's National Convener.

Ramesh Chotai, Chair of CIF's board of directors, stated, "We are pleased that our efforts in fostering support for stronger relations with India and increasing Canadians' awareness of India have played a substantial role in elevating our relationship with India to a top priority item on the national agenda. CIF also congratulates Prime Minister Stephen Harper's reported plan to visit India in November and believes that the PM's visit would further demonstrate Canada's serious commitment and substantial goodwill toward our relationship with India ."

About Canada India Foundation (www.canadaindia.org)

Canada India Foundation is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007 to foster support for stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India ; to educate Canadians on the changing face of India and to increase the participation of Indo-Canadians in the public policy process in Canada . CIF's founding members include industrialists, senior Canadian business executives and top tier professionals.

For further information: Manoj Pundit, Spokesperson, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]