Canadian PM to visit India

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's forthcoming visit to India will focus on efforts to triple bilateral trade to US$15 billion and to boost cooperation in sports, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Harper, who will be arriving in India on Nov 3 for a week-long visit, will be accompanied by Canadian Sports Minister Bal Gosal and a delegation of business leaders.

Gosal said Canada has increased efforts to capitalise on India's emerging role as an economic power and both countries will explore opportunities in sports for the first time.

"Canada's bilateral trade with India reached US$5.1 billion last year but almost zero in the sports sector," he said.

Canada and India have longstanding bilateral relations with a wide range of agreements in the fields of agriculture, energy, mutual legal assistance and air services.

Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, said Harper's visit would mark the beginning of a deeper engagement between the two countries.

"The visit's main focus is to cement bilateral relationship mainly in the trade sector," he said.

Sources said the visit is expected to finalise a nuclear deal signed between India and Canada in 2010 which has yet to be implemented.