Canada finds investment opportunities in Himachal

The Canadian High Commissioner Stewart G Beck today showed keen interest in bringing investment to the state in some core sectors like hydro-power,agriculture,horticulture,food processing,tourism and forest produce. During a meeting with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here,Beck assisted by Consul General Scot Slessor said conditions in Himachal Pradesh were congenial to new investment and also expressed willingness to provide expertise to the state in areas like the hydro sector and horticulture,mainly apple cultivation.

Beck said Canada and Himachal have similar geophysical conditions and both could benefit with the experience of each other. The High Commissioner said his country would be keen to participate in different tourism-related activities of the hill state. Earlier,the chief minister informed Beck that Himachal’s economy was highly dependent on horticulture,hydroelectric power and tourism with the annual fruit industry alone being worth around Rs.2,000 crore . During the day,Beck also attended a series of lectures at the Himachal Pradesh University organised by the University’s Canadian Studies Development Programme (CSDP).

Beck,in his speech,said the Himachal Pradesh University had potential to attract knowledge as it was blessed with congenial environment for research and extension. “ The Canadian Universities have signed MoUs with many of the Indian Universities for exchange programmes and about 15 presidents of Canadian Universities and 20 Vice-Chancellors from Indian Universities visited Canada on exchange programmes”.