Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The new Canadian Ambassador, Nadir Patel, who happens to be of Indian origin and took over his present assignment only recently, today called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed some of the possible joint-ventures of mutual interest between the two countries. The Ambassador was accompanied by two NRI Canadian entrepreneurs Mukund Purohit and Vikram Khurana. The Canadian Ambassador expressed his Government’s keenness to collaborate with India at various levels and in different areas. He said, the people of Canada were looking forward with great excitement and enthusiasm to the forthcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to that country next month.
Patel was appreciative of the rapid strides made by India in space technology. He referred to the ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organization) reported plans to develop capability for heavy and high throughput satellites. In this context, Canadian scientists are eager to share their technical know- how with the Indian counterparts,he added.
In response, Dr Jitendra Singh said, most of the recent Space Missions by ISRO were more or less totally indigenous and lived up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inspiring concept “Make In India”. To cite an example, he referred to Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) which had been 100% indigenously developed with 100% Indian infrastructure and Indian human resource. This Mission, he said, had not only established India’s supremacy in Space technology but also paved the way for more advanced Space Missions to the Mars in the years to come.
Dr Jitendra Singh also took up the issue of Northeast with the Canadian delegation and spelt out a number of plans envisaged for future with a view to promote outside investment in the region which could generate revenue as well as employment opportunities.
In response, the Canadian representatives assured the Union DoNER Minister that they would come back to him with a concept paper about several new ideas , schemes and trade ventures that they have been contemplating in the context of Northeastern region of India.