Anand Sharma pushes for supply of potash from Canada

Union minister for commerce, industry and textiles, Anand Sharma and Canada's minister of international trade and minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway Edward Fast have said that residual issues on the Foreign Investment Protection Agreement and Bilateral Social Security Agreement between the two countries have been resolved and both agreements could now be signed at an opportune time.

Fast also confirmed that Canada  has delinked the SSA from FIPA after a meeting with Sharma in New York yeterday to meet Sharma, who is part of the PM's entourage.

Sharma raised the issue of constrained supply of potash from Canada to Indian buyers. He said the Canadian government should view this matter from a strategic perspective and urge Canadian businesses to enter into long-term agreements with Indian buyers on commercial terms.

The two also took stock of the current status of trade and commercial linkages between India and Canada.

Fast and Sharma also discussed steps to be taken by both sides to intensify the interaction between the government and private sector stakeholder on both sides.

Sharma also pointed out the need to convene the meeting of the India-Canada CEO Forum at an early date so that the agenda for positive engagement between the businesses of the two countries could be furthered.