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The process of granting exploration licences and all aspects of the mining sector in India have become substantially more transparent and merit-based than ever before, and the government’s mining department has divested it of virtually all discretionary decision making powers, said Subhash Chandra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India, at the traditional reception hosted by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) and the Consulate General of India in Toronto (CGI-Toronto) for the Indian mining delegation visiting the annual Prospects and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in Toronto.
Subhash Chandra led a 20 member delegation comprising officials from public sector mining entities. He emphasised that the mining sector in India stood to gain vastly from the expertise that the Canadian mining sector had to offer. The Indian mining sector is being developed in a sustainable manner, with special attention being given to the needs of the indigenous people on whose traditional lands mining activities are to occur. The Joint Secretary declared that the Government of India is focusing on technology-based innovation in the sector, and is keen to invite investments in the sector that enhance productivity in a sustainable manner.
A delegation from India led by the Ministry of Mines and comprising officials from both the public and private sector mining entities has traditionally participated in Toronto’s annual PDAC trade show, and the ICCC in collaboration with the CGI-Toronto has organised a welcome reception for the delegation to enable their interaction with Canadian mining sector entities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dinesh Bhatia, the Consul General of India in Toronto, credited the Indo-Canadians for the growing cooperation between Canada and India. He said that he often heard in public discourses that while both Canada and India shared many traits, their economic relations have not yet realised the full potential. He said that the Indo-Canadians were doing their best to ensure that the relationship continue to progress in the desired direction and at a faster pace. He said at present, Indian entities were investing more in Canada and helping create Canadian jobs than Canadian entities were investing in India.
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Arun Srivastava, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), welcomed the delegation and thanked the CGI-Toronto for its collaboration in organising the reception. He said the ICCC was celebrating its 40th year in 2017, which coincided with India’s 70th year of Independence and Canada’s 150th year of the formation of the Confederation. The ICCC President said that the Chamber has rededicated itself in its fortieth year to fulfil its twin objectives of fostering bilateral economic ties and creating opportunities for Indo-Canadians.
Prominent members and other dignitaries participated in the reception including Hon. Deepak Obhrai, MP and a contender for the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership; veteran entrepreneurs and community leaders Ramesh Chotai, Deepak Ruparell, and V.I. ‘Lucky’ Lakshmanan. The event also saw the participation of a number of past presidents of the ICCC including Sanjay Makkar, Dharma Jain and Satish Thakkar. Among the board members who were present at the program were Pappur Shankar, Nareshkumar Chavada and Janak Bhawnani.
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