ICCC-India Mission 2014

 Lucknow - January 6

Akhilesh Yadav to lead trade delegation to Canada in June 2014

Naval Bajaj with Akhilesh Yadav

Hon. Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, announced that he will be leading a business and trade delegation to Canada in June 2014. He was speaking at the conference Canada-Uttar Pradesh conference on Exploring Opportunities Beyond Borders organized by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), the office of Senator Dr. Asha Seth, and the Government of Uttar Pradesh on January 6 in the Uttar Pradesh’s capital city Lucknow.

Members of the ICCC delegation at the conference

The conference explored possibilities of collaboration between Canada and Uttar Pradesh in agriculture, food processing, energy, infrastructure among other sectors. The day’s events included a luncheon reception for the Canadian delegation with the Chief Minister and his team, the conference and an evening dinner reception.

Chief Minister Yadav emphasized that Uttar Pradesh has a huge potential in agriculture and food processing as 65% of the state’s population was engaged in the agriculture sector. He said that Canada would provide technical knowhow to Uttar Pradesh on post-harvest technology.

Naval Bajaj, Dr. Asha Seth with Akhilesh Yadav

Senator Dr. Asha Seth, who had played a crucial role in the organizing the Lucknow visit of the Canadian delegation, his her speech said, “I hail from Uttar Pradesh, and I have immense interest in developing closer cooperation between Canada and Uttar Pradesh.”

VI (Lucky) Lakshmanan, the President of Canada-India Foundation, and a technocrat of repute, advised that Uttar Pradesh should look to Canada to develop its base in alternate energy. Canada’s low-cost, high technology knowhow in alternate energy could easily benefit regions such as Uttar Pradesh that have abundant natural resources but face a financial challenge, he said.

Canadian delegates at the dinner reception

Javed Usmani, the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, and Alok Ranjan, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, also spoke on the occasion. Among the Canadian speakers were Sohail Saeed, Director, Economic Development, Brampton; Ray Chan, Investment Attraction Manager, India and South Asia, Government of Saskatchewan.