Giving a fillip to Indo-Canada trade relations, Toronto has announced a new visa regime that will allow Indians 10 years multiple entry visa to the country.

The announcement was made by the Canadian Minister of International Trade, Mr Edward Fast, at a meeting with the delegates of the Indian government and business community at the two-day mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Canada 2011 convention that began here today.

Mr Fast said the new visa process would be available to Indians who travelled to Canada frequently.

“After an initial visa screening, applicants can get a visa that allow them to visit Canada often — as long as their passports are valid up to 10 years,” he said.

The Minister of State for External Affairs, Ms Preneet Kaur, who is leading the Indian delegation, said both countries were committed to strengthen their bilateral trade relations.

“The Indo-Canadian community is a microcosm of the people of Indian origin living abroad,” she said.

“India and Canada will soon sign the Social Security Agreement, conclude a bilateral Investment Protection Agreement, negotiate a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and complete an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” she said, adding that both nations aim at a bilateral trade target of $15 billion in the next five years.

Both countries were in talks for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that would yield significant economic benefit and lower tariff on a large number of products for both the countries.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW