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News Release - Manitoba

February 8, 2013

Premier Wraps Up Trade Mission with Remarks to Mumbai World Trade Centre



MUMBAI, India—Premier Greg Selinger has completed a 10-day trade mission to India with remarks to a meeting of Manitoba and Indian business leaders at the Mumbai World Trade Centre.

“India is an economy that has kept growing at an incredible pace despite uncertainty in the global economy and, with strong business and community connections to Manitoba, it offers tremendous potential to Manitoba businesses,” said Selinger.  “Expanding our trade and collaborations with India will create new opportunities and good jobs for businesses and families in Manitoba.”

The premier made his remarks at a forum, held by the Winnipeg World Trade Centre and the Mumbai World Trade Centre, which brought businesses from both cities together.  In his remarks, the premier highlighted the particular potential for greater collaboration in the areas of food security and storage, energy development, aerospace and advanced manufacturing, and production, transportation and distribution.

“By bringing leaders from the business community, our colleges and universities, and the premier together, we’re able to open more doors and make stronger connections with India,” said Mariette Mulaire, president and CEO of Winnipeg’s newly created World Trade Centre.  “There’s incredible knowledge and expertise in Manitoba and working together, we’re taking our talents to the world.”

Joining the premier and more than 20 Manitoba businesses on the mission to India were representatives from Brandon University, the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, Red River College and the Winnipeg Technical College who, by the end of the mission, will have signed eight memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Indian institutions to collaborate more closely.

“From programs in multimedia development to hospitality and hotel management, these new MOUs will mean more Manitobans will have the chance to study abroad and more students from India will have the chance to get an education in Manitoba,” said Selinger.  “And these tighter ties will allow faculty from our respective universities and colleges to participate in exchanges and collaborate on research.”

During the course of the mission, the premier:

  • met with members of the Ludhiana Management Association, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the All India Association of Industries;
  • delivered a keynote speech at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit;
  • met with senior officials at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in Gujarat and Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar;
  • met with elected officials including the chief minister’s of Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi, as well as several ministers and ministers of state;
  • toured the Nano car manufacturing facilities of Tata Motors, India’s largest manufacturer of cars and trucks; and
  • helped officially open the Mata Gujri Memorial Library and Learning Centre in Banohar village.

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