CANADA-INDIA 2 LAST

Singh and Harper are expected to use the trip to talk
about a Canada-India Free Trade Agreement or smaller steps to
lower trade barriers between the two countries.
Harper's visit follows 11 ministerial-level visits to
India since 2006, S M Gavai, High Commissioner of India said.
India is one of the world's fastest growing economies and
trade between India and Canada is increasing. The strength of
ties between the two countries is also reflected in the fact
that an estimated one million Indian origin people are
residing in Canada and 7,300 Indian students are currently
studying here, Gavai said.
In addition to New Delhi, Harper is also likely to visit
the country's commercial hub of Mumbai. He may also consider
visits to Chennai or Hyderabad, where Canadian companies are
particularly active.
"This visit reflects the continuation of the strong
relations between Canada and India, which our government has
worked hard to achieve for the past three years," Deepak
Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, who will accompany Harper, said in a statement.
Canada has ramped up activities in India in the last few
years, opening several trade offices in the hope of boosting a
trade relationship valued now at a relatively minuscule USD
two billion a year.
"The footprint of Canada is very strong in India and it
suggests that the government is building a foundation on which
to really expand trade," a diplomatic source said. PTI