Marine Institute hosts trade delegation from India

The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MI) hosted a delegation from India on Thursday, welcoming a group that represents companies and organizations from India that are taking part in a trade mission to Atlantic Canada from August 31 to September 4

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The delegates from India began their tour of the Marine Institute with a visit to MI’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources. They then proceeded to the Marine Institute’s Centre for Marine Simulation, where they experienced a virtual boat ride through the narrows of St. John’s harbor courtesy MI’s full motion, full mission bridge simulator.

“The Marine Institute takes a lot of pride in being the leading oceans-related post-secondary institution in Canada, so we wanted to show our guests the amazing technology available at MI,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “The full motion, full mission bridge simulator is one of only two of its kind in the world and we were happy to share its capabilities with the trade delegation from India.”

The tour of MI by the Indian delegation concluded with presentations from the Marine Institute’s School of Ocean Technology, the Center for Aquaculture and Seafood Development and from the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre.

“It was a productive day for all parties involved and we enjoyed the opportunity to showcase the Marine Institute to a group of individuals who are interested in doing business in Newfoundland and Labrador and throughout Atlantic Canada,” said Blackwood. “I want to thank everyone involved with the trade mission, especially delegation head Vijay Kalantri, for including the Marine Institute in their visit. We hope we helped our visitors learn about business opportunities in this province.”

The companies and organizations taking part in the trade mission represent a broad cross-section of India’s economy, including sectors such as information and communications technology, manufacturing and shipping. The mission is organized by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) as a follow up to the successful Atlantic Gateway business mission to India that took place in February, 2008. The objectives of the mission are to promote trade between Atlantic Canada and India, build on the growing international trade potential of the Atlantic Gateway, and examine related business opportunities that can be developed in the short to medium-term.

“The Government of Canada considers India to be a priority market, and we are strengthening Canada’s relationship with that country by organizing events like the Atlantic Gateway business mission to India and this trade mission of Indian business delegates,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, in a media release issued by ACOA. The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), noted that trade between Canada and India has been growing. “Total exports from Canada to India stood at over $2.3 billion in 2008, an increase of 185% compared to 2004. Imports of Indian products into Atlantic Canada doubled in the same time period,” he said.

The trade mission is being organized by ACOA in collaboration with the World Trade Centre Atlantic Canada. After leaving the Marine Institute on Thursday, the trade delegation from India travelled to Halifax, Nova Scotia to continue their mission. While in the Atlantic Provinces, the Indian companies will be matched with counterparts to explore new business opportunities and to participate in a five-day program to learn more about Atlantic Canada, its business community, and the Atlantic Gateway.