LAHORE, Jan 23: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi says a solid base has been laid for mutual cooperation between Punjab and the Canadian province of Ontario.
He was speaking at the signing ceremony of a joint declaration for cooperation in trade and economic fields at a local hotel on Tuesday. The declaration was signed by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and Ontario Prime Minister Dalton Mcguinty.
The chief minister said: “Signing of agreements between public and private sectors of the two provinces will not only strengthen mutual contacts, but also increase cooperation for transfer of technology in the fields of agriculture, industry, trade and information technology.”
He said the joint declaration would open new vistas for investment, economic cooperation and trade activities in the two provinces. Information would be exchanged between the two provinces for strengthening economic cooperation. Joint efforts made for human rights protection, promotion of democratic values and economic development would be further strengthened, he said.
The Ontario prime minister said: “These agreements would open new avenues for progress and development for the people of the two provinces.”
He said hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis were playing role peacefully in socio-economic development of Ontario. He said efforts would be made for cooperation between the two provinces in the fields of agriculture, energy, engineering, information technology and other sectors.
Later, private companies of Punjab and Ontario signed agreements in the fields of health (medical), information technology and the security system.
TRADE STRATEGY: At a reception hosted in honour of the Ontario premier at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Pervaiz Elahi said his government would benefit from the strategy adopted by Canada for the promotion of its trade.
He said the government had set up industrial zones and their management had been handed over to the private sector. He said the aim of economic development could not be achieved without consolidating the private sector.
He said the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was playing a significant role in social development in the province.
He said the Ontario government should set up its trade office in Lahore which would help exchange products of both the provinces in a better manner. He also suggested holding of an investment conference in Toronto for exploring prospects of mutual cooperation in telecom, IT, power, automobile and other sectors.
Dalton Mcguinty said the Canada-Pakistan Business Council had made efforts for the promotion of trade relations between the two countries.
He also thanked the chief minister for the hospitality shown to him and his delegation in the province.—APP