Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Announces to forge collaborations in skill development, faculty exchange, food technology & milk processing
* Badal calls for mechanism to follow up these decisions for speedy implementation
* Demanda visa relaxation for skilled & technically qualified Punjabi’s
* Asks for mutual recognition of skill certification between Punjab & BC
Chandigarh, British Columbia Premier Ms. Christy Clark today announced to forge collaboration in the varied fields of Skill Development, Faculty Exchange, Food Technology, Processing & Cold Chain, Dairying and Milk Processing besides Cultural Exchange with the Punjab Government to further boost the bi-lateral socio-economic ties between the both states.
This decision was taken by the visiting delegation led by Ms. Clark following marathon discussion in a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here this evening at his residence.
Taking part in the deliberations, the BC Premier assured Mr. Badal that the decisions taken in today’s meeting would be implemented in the right earnest as Punjabis shared cordial ties with Canada besides contributing enormously in its overall development and prosperity. She asked the Minister of Advanced Education BC, Mr. Amrik Virk who accompanied her in the meeting to tie up with the Punjab Education Minister Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema to work out the modalities for teacher and student exchange program during the summer vacations besides initiating a faculty exchange program under which the faculty of British Columbia University would visit the State Universities especially in the fields of Pharmacology, Generic Medicines and Bio-energy, where these Universities have a strong presence.She also promised to give due recognition to the certificate/diploma courses of skill training there in BC so as to enable our youth to be gainfully employed there.
Responding positively to the proposals put forth by Mr. Badal to collaborate in the area of food technology, processing & cold chain, dairying and milk processing, the BC Premier apprised him that they had a Trade Centre at Chandigarh where thePunjab Government could submit these proposals there for their active consideration and follow up. She also evinced keen interest in the exchange of cultural troupes of eminent musicians and folk singers from Punjab to participate in the Vancouver Punjabi Mela held every year.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to put a mechanism in place to follow up these decisions to ensure their prompt implementation adding he suggested that a high level group headed by State Chief Secretary be constituted to take these and any other issue forward. He also impressed upon the visiting Premier to set up their ventures in the upcoming Medi City and Edu City at New Chandigarh where there was a huge scope of mutual collaboration. Mr. Badal also apprised her that the GoI under the leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi has already announced to allow the states to enter collaborations/partnership in trade and commercial activities with the states of foreign countries. The Chief Minister thanked Ms. Clark for taking personal initiative to forge collaboration in different fields of mutual interest especially in the field of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry as this would further give impetus to the state government’s efforts to its ambitions program of agriculture diversification. The Chief Minister asked the Food Processing Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon to pursue the proposals for collaborations in the development of Food Technology, Processing & Cold Chain with the concerned quarters. Mr. Badal also sought her direct intervention and cooperation for relaxing the visa norms especially for skilled and technically persons to further strengthen bi-lateral ties between Punjab and BC on one hand and boost economic development of BC through skilled man power on the other. He also demanded mutual recognition of educational qualifications and skill certification between Punjab and British Columbia. Apart from this, Mr. Badal also impressed upon the BC Premier for setting up Skill Development Centers in Punjab to cater their mutual needs. He said it was a matter of great pride that both India and Canada were strong democracies besides the member of Commonwealth. The Chief Minister also told her that nearly 4-5% population of British Columbia was of Punjabi origin and they had very strong ties with Punjab and were playing a crucial role in Governance, Economy and Development of British Columbia.
The BC Premier was accompanied by Mr. Amrik Virk, Minister of Advanced Education, Ms. Sandra Carroll, Deputy Minister, Advanced Education, Ms. Rajni Alexander, Consul General, Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh and Mr. Barinder Bhullar, Senior Director International Missions.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Food Processing Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon,Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Finance Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary School Education Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary Higher Education Dr. Roshan Sunkaria, Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce Mr. Karn Avtar Singh, Secretary Cultural Affairs Mrs. Raji P Srivastva, Secretary IT Mr. RK Verma and Special Principal Secretary to CM. Mr. Gagandip Singh Brar.
