Australia keen to forge pact with Punjab in agriculture, skill development
Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 May, 2022 10:00 AM
Chandigarh, May 4 (IANS) In a bid to give fillip to bilateral trade, Australian High Commissioner Barry O'Farrell on Wednesday evinced keen interest to forge collaboration especially in the field of agriculture and skill development with Punjab on the pattern of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Responding to O'Farrell's proposal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured him of all cooperation and support in this regard so as to propel Punjab in the high growth trajectory by concretizing these plans of mutual interest.
A three-member Australian delegation led by O'Farrell, including Member Parliament Gurmesh Singh and Second Secretary Political Jack Taylor, called on the Chief Minister here.
Apprising Mann about the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA), O'Farrell said it is the India's first bilateral trade agreement with a large, developed economy in 10 years, which aims to double two-way trade.
He mentioned that Australia's goal is to lift India into their top three export markets by 2035 and make it third largest outward investment destination in Asia.
Pointing out further, O'Farrell said Punjab could be immensely benefitted by forging collaboration with Australia especially in the field of agriculture and agro-industry as its progressive farmers have a proven track record of vast experience and expertise in food production.
Taking part in the deliberations, Mann said that Punjabis due to their enterprising and resilience nature have fairly contributed in the overall socio-economic development of all the major countries across the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, the US, Italy, etc.
Mann said: "Punjab has several franchises in the different parts of the world viz. there is a big Punjab in Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney, Auckland, besides a mini-Punjab in the UK".
The Chief Minister asked the visiting delegation to be in touch with his team of officers headed by his Additional Chief Secretary A. Venu Prasad, who was also present in the meeting, to fructify these proposals of mutual interest between the both sides on the ground.
Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, O'Farrell emphasised on the much needed synergy to boost bilateral ties for promotion of trade and business with Punjab.
He assured Mann that their team would also pro-actively engage with Punjab to further strengthen their economic cooperation.
Swara Bhasker, who has been vocal in her criticism of the new citizenship law, termed it a "targeted" law and claimed it is an "attack" on the Constitution of India.
The government has worked on lighting these dark spots in the last three years, and the number of dark spots which were identified in another audit carried out by SafetiPin over January to May 2019 was 2,768 in number, he said.
Former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan defender R Dhanarajan died on Sunday night while playing a 'Sevens' football match at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district.
The Twitter handle of PM Modi's personal website also had a message saying that the CAA is about giving citizenship to persecuted refugees and not about taking anyone's citizenship away.
"Prime Minister Varadkar's visit is entirely private.There are no official functions planned during his visit. Hewould be in Goa till January 1 alongwith his family," he said.
