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Released: 01 April, 2003

Canada and India to Cooperate in Geoscience

OTTAWA — An agreement signed today between Canada and India will strengthen cooperation and lead to benefits for science and business in the field of geoscience. The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, and Shri Ramesh Bais, Minister of Mines for India, signed the agreement on Parliament Hill.

The agreement also creates a working group for implementing and monitoring cooperative activities in geosciences and related fields in both Canada and India.

"Today's signing is an important step in implementing projects that will benefit the geoscience and mining sectors of both our countries," said Minister Dhaliwal. "It will help Canada develop greater collaboration with India and lay the foundation for future projects."

"The Government of India attaches considerable importance to the contribution of geoscience information to mining and other activities," said Minister Bais. "We recognize the profile that Canadian geosciences and mining communities enjoy on the world stage, and we also envision opportunities to attract Canadian investments."

The agreement was first discussed with India's former Minister of Coal and Mines during a business development mission to India in November 2002, led by Minister Dhaliwal. During that mission, the Government of Canada entered into a similar agreement for geomatics with the Indian ministry responsible for science and technology.

The Ministry of Coal and Mines was separated into two ministries in late January 2003, with Minister Bais becoming responsible for the newly created Ministry of Mines.

Geoscience knowledge is essential to understanding a country's landmass, performing cost-effective exploration, and developing mineral, energy and groundwater resources in a sustainable manner. The global market for geomatics products and geoscience services is estimated to reach between $45 billion and $67 billion (excluding the space sector) by 2004. Both Canada and India have strong capabilities in the development and use of geoscience knowledge and geoinformation technologies.

This agreement builds on the Government of Canada's commitment to making Canada a world leader in innovation - for the Canada we want, for ourselves and for future generations.

The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, and Shri Ramesh Bais, Minister of Mines for India, signed an agreement on April 1 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa that will strengthen cooperation between the geoscience and mining sectors of both countries.

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The following media backgrounder is also available:

1. Geoscience In Canada And India