New Delhi [India], June 30 : A delegation of over 120 Indian pulse traders and millers are expected to visit Canada to attend the Canadian Special Crops Association's Pulses Convention from July 10th to 13th 2017 in Vancouver, BC The convention is expected to be the largest ever with a record number of participants from all over the world.
Canada is India's largest supplier of imported pulses, and Indian companies are visiting Canada to strengthen business relationships, seek new trading partners, explore investment opportunities, and identify new products and processing technologies for use in India.
To facilitate this, the High Commission of Canada in India is also organising a "pulses sector familiarization tour" for Indian industry leaders.
The tour includes business to business meetings and visits to pulse farms, processing facilities, grain elevators and grain transportation hubs in Alberta and Saskatchewan, two provinces that produce over 95% of all Canadian pulses.
High Commissioner for Canada to India Nadir Patel said: "Canada is a world leader in production of pulses and is a trusted trading partner for India in the pulses sector.
Canadian lentils, peas, chickpeas and dry beans are known for their excellent quality throughout the world.
There are significant opportunities for Indian companies to partner with Canadian industry and pulse processors to address India's growing demand for protein from vegetable sources.
This visit will provide Indian companies with first-hand knowledge of Canada's strengths in pulses and the agriculture sector".
Chairman of the Indian Pulses and Grains Association, Pravin Dongre said "Canada is the largest supplier of pulses to India and a reliable partner in India's pulse sector.
Indian industry has established strong ties with Canadian businesses over the years. It will be a fantastic opportunity to meet with our friends and partners and take stock of current trends in global pulses trade" This visit, taking place during Canada's 150th anniversary called "Canada 150" follows on the heels of several recent Indian business missions to Canada supported by the government of Canada, through its network of 8 offices in India, including the High Commission in Delhi and Consulates General and Trade offices.
In June 2017, the High Commissioner for Canada to India led a business delegation of nearly 150 Indian companies to Canada in celebration of Canada 150.
This followed shortly after another Indian business delegation travelled to Vancouver for the Hydrogen and Fuel cells convention and a business mission to explore Canada's life sciences technology capabilities.
In a short span of 6 weeks, more than 250 Indian business visitors have travelled to Canada, seeking technology and new products from Canada, highlighting the ever increasing trade ties between the two countries.
Canada is the world's second largest pulses producer with production of 8.4 million metric tonnes in 2016-17.
Canada produces dry peas, lentils, dry beans and chickpeas. India is the top destination for Canadian pulses. Over 1/3rd of pulses imported by India come from Canada. Ninety percent of lentils and 60 percent of peas imported by India are from Canada. The year 2016 was celebrated as the Year of Pulses. The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation organised events around the world to raise awareness about the important role of pulses in sustainable food production and healthy diets and their contribution to food security and nutrition.
Canada's innovation in oilseeds, pulses and grain production and strength's in food processing is recognised internationally.
India and Canada can collaborate and share expertise to increase agriculture and agri-food production in India and reduce wastage by processing of agri-food commodities using latest technology and science.
Over the past five years, bilateral trade between India and Canada has increased by some 60 percent. Canadian investment in India has grown significantly over the past two years, with an estimated USD 14 billion in recent investments in India by Canadian institutional investors.
Over 1,000 Canadian companies are estimated to be active in India, of which some 400 have a physical presence in India.
The Government of Canada has eight points of service across India, through the High Commission in Delhi, three Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chandigarh, and four trade offices in Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
This is Canada's largest diplomatic presence in the world. More than 1.3 million Canadians have Indian heritage, and with Air Canada's three direct routes to Canada from India the people to people ties between our two countries continue to grow.
India is the second largest source of international students in Canada, driven by a significant rise in bilateral education ties over the past two years.
Source: ANI
