India and Canada today agreed to set up a CEO Forum to suggest policy initiatives for increasing trade and investment, as the two countries aim for tripling the bilateral commerce to $15 billion by 2015.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma met Canadian International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan and also agreed in principle to establish working groups on public- private-partnership model, focusing on infrastructure, energy, mining, agro-processing and education, a statement said.
"Both sides agreed to expedite the establishment of a Canada-India CEO Forum, a high-level representative body that would recommend policy initiatives and identify impediments to the enhancement of investment and trade between the countries," a statement released in New Delhi said.
A joint study group report has recommended that the two countries should start negotiations for a bilateral market opening the trade pact.
The two nations are also negotiating agreements on social security and investment promotion and protection.
"These two agreements will make a significant contribution to the commercial and economic interaction between the two countries," the release said.
The ministers also reviewed the status of bilateral cooperation in critical sectors such as energy, environment, mining, ICT, science and technology, education and training, tourism, financial and other services, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Sharma had called on the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper and apprised him on the current trade and investment scenario.
The two-way trade stood at $4.5 billion.
