M. Somasekhar

Hyderabad, Dec. 5

A 30-company strong industry delegation will accompany Mr Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Canada's Ontario Province, on a visit to hardsell ‘clean technologies' and forge joint ventures with Indian companies.

The high-level trade mission team will have extensive interactions with Government officials and industry during their tour covering the three cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad during December 6-11.

Ontario, which consists of Ottawa (the capital of Canada) and Toronto, one of the most developed cities boasting high quality of life, has put in place a ‘Green Energy Act' and has 2,200 companies venturing into clean technologies, with strengths in water technology.

The Minister of Economic Development, Ms Sandra Puppatello, who is accompanying the Premier said “We are in the midst of the climate change agenda and have taken several steps to promote green technologies back home. Our aim is to put Ontario on top of climate change agenda in North America.”

Solar and wind energy were high on the agenda of the Province. It has created access to venture capital and an exclusive Emerging Technology Fund created to incentivise R&D and investments. A company that spends $100 can get back up to $60 through incentives, Ms Puppatello told a group of visiting global media team recently in Toronto.

A major initiative the province launched in September was the Renewable Energy Facilitation Office, which will be a one stop office for alternate energy. It would focus on encouraging small companies getting into the renewable energy and clean technologies.

Anticipating a deal

The visit by the Premier of Ontario and industry delegation follows the one by the Canadian Prime Minister and the meetings with his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, in November. The recent conclusion of an agreement on the nuclear front augurs well for the growth of engagement between the two countries in several sectors of technology.

Interestingly, the global leader in uranium production, Cameco Corporation of Canada, has already set up its India office in Hyderabad in anticipation of the Indo-Canada nuclear deal.