Interactive session at PDPU

The India Mission 2014 delegates participated in an interactive session of the students of the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) and Hon. Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Oliver said, “In Canada and India, governments and the private sector are exploring how to expand the energy relationship in ways that benefit both our countries.”

He further emphasized, “Our academic institutions also have a role to play. In developing the people and future leaders we need to take the energy industry – which is a global industry – to greater levels of performance. We should continue to identify and leverage our collaboration to advance clean energy technology development between our two countries, for example, to low carbon technologies, oil and gas production and energy efficiency.”

In his remarks, Naval Bajaj, President, ICCC, “Many Canadian universities and colleges offer programs specializing in the technical aspects of oil and gas. Dalhousie, Memorial, Manitoba, Calgary, NAIT are a few of the schools training Canadians and foreign students in energy related technologies. It is these value additive technologies and services that differentiate Canada from other commodity producers.” He added, “As India seek new sources of energy to meet steadily rising demand, the opportunities for Canada as both a commodity producer and technology provider will grow.”

Business reception & B2B meetings at GCCI

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), a MoU partner of ICCC organized a business reception for the India Mission 2014 delegates. DJ Pandian, the Principal Secretary, Government of Gujarat, was the keynote speaker at the reception. He lauded the efforts ICCC has been undertaking in promoting closer economic ties between Gujarat and Canada. He noted the support ICCC gives biannually to the Vibrant Gujarat business convention.

In his remarks, Naval Bajaj emphasized the multidimensional work that the Chamber has been undertaking in the bilateral trade sphere. He expressed confidence that the Canada-India bilateral ties were on the right track and that the on-going negotiations on the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) would pave the way for closer and more robust economic ties.

ICCC President suggested that GCCI should start a Canada desk to facilitate bilateral opportunities and assist Gujarat-based small businesses to explore the Canadian market. He pledged that ICCC would be happy to collaborate on such a joint program.

Mike Mehta, Director, Business Development, ICCC, also emphasized the dedicated and single-minded approach the Chamber has adopted to promoting trade relations through the India Missions over the last three years.

Shanker Patel, President, GCCI, announced that his Chamber would lead a business delegation to Canada in June 2014.

Visit to Abellon Clean Energy

India Mission 2014 delegation visited the Abellon Clean Energy facility. Abellon CleanEnergy is an integrated sustainable energy solutions provider with a vision to contribute to clean energy generation through bioenergy, including solid bio-fuel, liquid bio-fuels, bio-power, and other forms of clean energy generation.

The company's focus is on developing products and solutions that lower greenhouse gas emissions and productively harness the abundant energy of the sun, benchmarking processes such as photosynthesis, to convert it into useful forms of energy.

Abellon has a portfolio of low-carbon energy technologies and a range of products and services, which together can meet the demands from the industrial, public and commercial sectors, as well as the community on a large scale.

The company already has a base in British Columbia and is planning a foray into Quebec. It may also considering setting up a unit in Brampton or Saskatchewan where it may use whwat husk into pellets. The group includes other clean tech entities such as Abellon Agrisciences, Abellon EPC and xcelris.