Premier Kathleen Wynne met Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India (right), and Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario (left), held a productive meeting today in New Delhi. India, like Ontario, is making record-breaking investments in infrastructure — more than US$1 trillion over the next 20 years as part of the Smart Cities Initiative. During the meeting, the Premier discussed Ontario’s expertise in infrastructure, sustainable development, cleantech and education. The Premier and Prime Minister talked about the success of Ontario’s mission thus far and discussed how they would build on the agreements reached to continue strengthening ties and creating jobs in both regions. The Premier first met Prime Minister Modi in April 2015 during his visit to Toronto.‎

As part of the trade mission to India, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement on her meeting in New Delhi with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi:

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I met today for the second time in less than a year to talk about how we can use our shared knowledge to strengthen cooperation between our regions and make them more prosperous. In our first meeting, Prime Minister Modi invited me to visit India, and this week we have warmly accepted his invitation. Our business delegation of over 70 members reflects Ontario and India’s shared priorities — including infrastructure, education and skills development, agriculture, sustainable development and clean energy. Our common purpose makes us natural partners.

In particular, we discussed how Ontario is ideally positioned to help support Prime Minister Modi’s Smart Cities Initiative, a program that will invest more than US$1 trillion over 20 years in sustainable infrastructure across India. Ontario has valuable expertise that can help India reach its sustainable development and urban renewal goals. For example, we are making record-breaking investments in infrastructure, and our province is a North American leader in fighting climate change, creating innovative cleantech, and developing renewable energy.

During our meeting, Prime Minister Modi and I discussed ways that we can continue to work together to explore mutually beneficial opportunities in agriculture and food processing, including a trip that Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal will undertake to India later this year to strengthen ties in this sector.

India is the world’s third-largest economy and a priority market for Ontario. My mission will help generate new business, political and cultural connections that will lead to future partnerships that benefit both regions. Providing companies with more opportunities to do business internationally is generating jobs and economic growth in both India and Ontario, and I look forward to further deepening this important relationship.”