As part of a week-long visit to the Middle East and Asia, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs was here in India on his first two-day visit to explore ways of deepening relations between India and Canada. Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai had accompanied Minister Bernier on this visit. The Minister claimed that the visit was very successful and was in keeping with Canadian government's commitment to further strengthen its relationship with India.

During his visit, Minister Bernier met with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath. With Minister Mukherjee, he had a positive discussion about Canada-India relationship, focusing on strategy, political and economic interests. He said that Canada and India shared common values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He also added that it was good for Canada to maintain a strong relationship with India which is the world's largest democracy and an increasingly important international partner.

Minister Bernier also discussed the case of Saul Itzhayek, a Canadian citizen incarcerated in India.

At their meeting, Ministers Bernier and Mukherjee discussed enhanced trade and investment opportunities, the environment, science and technology, regional security and counterterrorism. Both Ministers agreed upon strengthening joint efforts towards keeping both democracies safe.

During his meeting with Minister Nath, Minister Bernier highlighted areas where commercial relations between Canada and India could be expanded, notably through two-way investment and science and technology collaboration. The Minister expressed Canada's particular interest in key sectors such as aerospace, agriculture and agri-food, infrastructure, information and communication technologies, energy, and oil & gas.

While in New Delhi, Minister Bernier also met with members of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, eminent members of the Indo-Canadian business community shared their views with the Minister on future business opportunities in India. The Minister also visited the Delhi Metro, one of India's most successful infrastructure projects. It should be noted that last year, Bombardier won a US$590-million contract to supply 340 metro cars to Delhi Metro Phase II.

Minister Bernier also reiterated Prime Minister Stephen Harper's invitation to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Canada in early 2008, and confirmed Canadian funding of $3.5 million over five years for the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute.