Chandigarh- Underscoring Haryana’s growing global engagement and its commitment to forging meaningful international partnerships, CM Nayab Singh Saini on Friday held a meeting with a high-level delegation from British Columbia, Canada, led by the Premier Mr. David Eby. The interaction focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration across key sectors and strengthening State–Province level cooperation between Haryana and British Columbia. During this Chief Principal Secretary to CM Rajesh Khullar, Commissioner and Secretary, Foreign Cooperation Department Amneet P. Kumar also remained present.
Welcoming the delegation, the Chief Minister said that the Government of Haryana attaches great importance to State–Province partnerships, which play a vital role in deepening India–Canada relations and strengthening economic, technological and people-to-people ties. He said that such engagements help translate shared democratic values into practical cooperation and long-term collaboration.
Saini said that British Columbia is among Canada’s most progressive provinces, with notable achievements in clean energy, technology, logistics and sustainable development. Haryana, he said, is one of India’s leading industrial and investment destinations, with strong capabilities in automobiles, electronics, IT services, agri-processing, logistics and renewable energy. He emphasized that the complementary strengths of both regions offer significant scope for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Detailed discussions were also held regarding collaboration in technology and digital sectors, including IT services, digital platforms and AI-based solutions, alongside cooperation in the agri-food and food processing sector, focusing on value-added agriculture, cold-chain infrastructure, food safety standards and export promotion.
Clean Technology and Pacific Trade Gateway of Strategic Importance
Highlighting priority areas, the Chief Minister drew attention to British Columbia’s expertise in clean technologies, its forward-looking environmental policies, strong innovation ecosystems, and the strategic importance of the Port of Vancouver as a Pacific trade gateway. These strengths, he said, align closely with Haryana’s vision for sustainable industrial growth and expansion of global trade linkages.
Growing Trade Ties Offer Significant Expansion Potential
Referring to trade relations, Saini said that India–Canada bilateral trade, currently valued at around USD 9 billion annually, has substantial potential for further expansion. He further shared that Haryana–Canada trade, estimated at approximately USD 280 million, is steadily increasing, particularly in engineering goods, auto components, IT services and processed food products, and that British Columbia can serve as an important platform for further enhancing Haryana’s exports to Canada.
Focus on Clean Energy and Climate Action-CM
The Chief Minister assured Haryana’s readiness to cooperate in clean energy and climate action, including renewable energy projects, green hydrogen, energy storage solutions, and energy-efficient industrial processes. He also highlighted opportunities in clean technology, particularly through partnerships among startups, research institutions and industrial units, as well as pilot initiatives in Haryana’s industrial areas.
Skill Development, Education and Workforce Mobility
Emphasizing human capital development, Saini said that skill development and education are key priorities for Haryana. He highlighted the scope for cooperation in industry-aligned skill training, academic collaboration, and student and faculty exchange programmes, and stated that Haryana is open to exploring workforce mobility opportunities, in accordance with prescribed regulations, particularly in sectors such as clean energy, technology and manufacturing.
Strong Presence of Canadian Companies in Haryana
The Chief Minister also highlighted the growing presence of Canadian companies in India, including CGI, Brookfield, SNC-Lavalin, BlackBerry, Apotex, Sun Life, Manulife, Royal Bank of Canada and Scotiabank. He said Haryana has emerged as a key hub for Canadian businesses, with companies such as Sun Life Global Solutions (Gurugram), Brookfield India REIT and SOTI Inc. having a strong presence in the state.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this meeting would help certainly identify priority sectors and pilot initiatives, and pave the way for future institutional arrangements such as MoUs or Letters of Intent, thereby strengthening Haryana–British Columbia cooperation in the coming years.
Institutional Framework key to Strengthening Haryana’s Global Partnerships- Pawan Choudhary
Advisor to the Chief Minister, Foreign Cooperation Department, Pawan Choudhary said that Haryana is following a structured, focused and outcome-driven approach towards international engagement. He emphasized that the state is actively working to build institutional frameworks with global partners to ensure that discussions lead to concrete projects, policy collaboration and long-term partnerships. He said that engagement with provinces such as British Columbia aligns with Haryana’s strategy to attract quality investments, advanced technologies and global best practices, while ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth.
The British Columbia delegation included David Eby, Premier of British Columbia; H.E. Chris Cooter, High Commissioner of Canada to India; Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth; Ms. Leslie Teramoto, Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat; Mr. Fazil Mihlar, Deputy Minister, Jobs and Economic Growth; Mr. William Hoyle, Assistant Deputy Minister, Jobs and Economic Growth; Ms. Jeanette Lam, Acting Executive Director, Trade and Invest BC; Ms. Shruti Joshi, Director of Outreach and Stakeholder Relations, Office of the Premier; Mr. Prashanth Nair, Managing Director, BC India Office, Canadian High Commission, New Delhi; and Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Trade Commissioner, British Columbia, Consulate General of Canada.