Pushing economy, creating jobs high on Modi’s agenda

Three-nation tour

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his upcoming three-nation tour of France, Germany and Canada was aimed at pushing forward the economic content of engagement with these countries in order to create jobs for the youth.

Ahead of the April 9-16 tour, Modi in a tweet underscored the primary aim of the trip: "My France, Germany & Canada visit is centred around supporting India's economic agenda & creating jobs for our youth."

In the first leg of the tour, the Prime Minister would arrive in France, where besides discussing measures to strengthen economic cooperation, he would visit some high tech industrial parks outside Paris.

In Germany, on the second leg of the tour, he said along with Chancellor Angela Merkel, he will jointly inaugurate the Hannover festival in which India is a partner country.

The third and final stop would take him to Canada and Prime Minister Modi said:"Looking forward to enhancing ties with Canada & interacting with leaders, captains of industry & diaspora in Canada."

Replying to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’t tweet: "Happy to announce Prime Minister of India, @NarendraModi will be visiting Canada this spring," Modi wrote: “...Will be wonderful to meet you in Canada."

The current Canadian Government under Harper took a number of initiatives to enhance relationship with India and also encouraged Conservative Party-led government in Ottawa to engage with Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

“Prior to 2006, the Government of Canada did not engage Chief Minister Modi and limited official visits to Gujarat. After Harper's Conservatives took power, the Government of Canada opened a trade office in Ahmedabad and MPs have regularly visited Gujarat and engaged Modi. This forward looking engagement has laid the groundwork for more positive relations between Canada and India", Neil Desai former advisor to PM Harper and currently a Fellow with the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto told The Tribune.