India and Ontario, a Canadian province, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation and investment in the field of geology and mineral resources in Toronto, Canada on July 8, 2010. The MoU was signed between Union Minister of Mines and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri B.K. Handique and the Minister of Mines with the province of Ontario Government,Canada, Mr. Michael Gravelle in the presence of Indian and Canadian officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Handique said that the MoU will promote investment in the field of mining and mining related activities, mineral exploration and exploitation and to encourage and foster mining investment, transfer of technology in areas of interest and joint ventures in India and Ontario. He said, we are formalizing a framework of cooperation concerning geology and mineral resources on subjects of mutual interest. During the recent visit of our Prime Minister to Canada,an MoU was signed on 27 June 2010 with the Canadian Federal Government to take advantage of the Canadian expertise in mining technology, Shri Handique added.

Following is the text of speech by the Union Minister of Mines and DoNER, Shri B. K. Handique, on the occasion of signing of MoU of Ministry of Mines with the province of Ontario of Canada on 8 July 2010 in Toronto:

“The relationship between Canada and India is deep rooted and multidimensional. Shared membership of the Commonwealth of Nations, shared role as global peacekeepers, a mixed economy that encourages entrepreneurship and market role while recognizing social responsibility – we, in India, describe it as liberalization and globalization with a human face in the words of Prime Minister, Dr Man Mohan Singh, an abundance of natural resources and above all, strong and proud multicultural fabric of citizens, are just some of the commonalities of our two nations.

We in India are particularly attracted to the Canada’s multicultural framework as the foundation of the Nationhood. We In India have been keeping track of the nation’s effort for a more than a decade since 1971 till 1988 culminating in the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, 1988 for preserving cultural mosaic of diverse ethnic groups. Time has proved that it is not the conflict of a ‘melting pot’ as practiced elsewhere, but  it is  a ‘salad bowl’ with all the pieces of the ensemble in the glass bowl in a spirit of reaching out and inclusiveness and each identified entity contributing together to make the nation great.

This quest for a harmony of assimilation and emotional integration among diverse ethnic groups over a span of about 5000 years of civilization has been experienced in India. We read it in the pages of history and are committed to line along the shared horizon of diversity. We see in Canada this process in the making. We feel assured that both of us committed to this approach.

You are aware that during the recent visit of our Prime Minister toCanada, an MoU was signed on 27 June 2010 with the Canadian Federal Government to take advantage of the Canadian expertise in mining technology.

And today, this afternoon I am here to further explore another avenue of our bilateral relationship and this time with the Province ofOntario. Ontario is known world over as a very advanced in the mining sector and my Ministry is keen to take advantage of the same for mutual benefit.

During the visit of Indian delegation to attend PDAC conference inToronto in March 2009, a dialogue for the strengthening the cooperation in mining sector was initiated.

I am, indeed, very happy that today we are formalizing the above initiative by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the framework for this cooperation concerning geology and mineral resources on subjects of mutual interest.

Through this MoU, we are poised to promote investment in the field of mining and mining related activities, mineral exploration and exploitation and to encourage and foster mining investment, transfer of technology in areas of interest and joint ventures in India and Ontario.

We, from Indian side, look forward to work with the Province ofOntario constructively for early realization of these objectives by formation of Joint Working Group and initiating the action in a definite time frame”.

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AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND CANADA FOR CO-OPERATION IN PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY