Bhubaneswar: Canadian High Commissioner to India, Christopher Cooter, accompanied by his wife, paid a courtesy call on Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo at Lok Seva Bhawan on Thursday.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Canada and India, with special emphasis on Odisha. Discussions centred on agriculture exports, technical cooperation, bilateral trade, and opportunities for foreign direct investment (FDI).
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo, who also holds the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment portfolio, highlighted Odisha’s rich mineral resources. He informed the Canadian delegation that the state holds 92% of India’s total chromite reserves and possesses abundant rare earth minerals along its coastal regions. The two sides explored possibilities of collaboration in mining, value-added industries, and sustainable industrial growth.
The Canadian side expressed keen interest in investing in Odisha’s automobile sector. Both parties discussed leveraging technical partnerships to boost bilateral trade and promote environmentally sustainable development.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department, Vishal Kumar Deb, and Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department & CMD, OPTCL, Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma.
Later, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo shared on X (formerly Twitter): “Had a pleasant courtesy meeting with Christopher Cooter, High Commissioner of Canada to India. Our exchange of greetings and constructive dialogue reaffirmed the importance of nurturing strong, enduring partnerships that transcend borders and strengthen Odisha’s global connect.”
