The Hindu : Canada woos A.P. investors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 25, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Canada woos A.P. investors

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD April 24. A Canadian Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) mission, now on a visit to Andhra Pradesh as part its Indian tour, has said that business opportunities for AP in Canada are abundant.

Rick Thorpe, Minister for Science, Competition and Enterprise, British Columbia, the most connected province in Canada, said on Wednesday that the ICT sector accounted for 6.2 per cent of the national gross domestic product of Canada and employed half a million people. Its annual turnover was $ 136 billions.

``Visit Canada and explore the possibilities of trade and investments between the two nations'', Mr.Thorpe told a gathering of industrialists and businessmen at the networking seminar on business opportunities in the ICT sector in Canada, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Wednesday.

In a power point presentation at the seminar, J. Satyanarayana, Principal Secretary, IT & Communications Department, explained the initiatives of the Government in promoting IT.

Mr. Satyanarayana disclosed that the draft of the IT Enabled Services Act and the Data Protection Act were ready and the two legislations would be brought in soon. Mr. Satyanarayana explained the infrastructure created in AP for the development of IT and Biotechnology and the large pool of technical talent through a network of professional colleges and institutions of higher learning.

Gerri Sinclair, President, Premier's Technology Council, that the British Columbia intends to emerge as the one of the World Top 10 technologically advanced centres in ICT by 2006. The council headed by the premier himself renders advice on all technology-related issues.

Ms. Sinclair said more than 6 out of 10 British Columbia citizens had access to the Internet. According to a recent survey by Ipsos-Reid, 49 per cent of British Columbians think the tech sector would contribute the most economic activity and jobs to the economy in the future.

M. Vijaykumar, convenor IT & C Panel, CII, AP and director of Software Technology Part of India, in his welcome address outlined agro-industrial areas which have the potential to contribute to the trade between India and Canada.

Gusti Jall Noria, Vice-Chairman, Indo-Canada Business Council proposed a vote of thanks.

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