'Year of India in Canada' launched in Ottawa

• India has launched year-long activities and programmes for its  'Year of India in Canada' to showcase the country's rich art and culture, as well as its rise as an economic power. 
• Gavai said that the yearlong festivities would include exhibitions of Indian art and culture, seminars on promoting trade and business, conferences on enhanced co-operation, food and film festivals and more in different parts of the country. 
• The celebratory year was designated for 2011 by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper during the latter's visit to India in November 2009.
• A sustained engagement of Canada with India is evident from the number of agreements and MOUs already signed between two countries such as Civilian nuclear cooperation agreement; higher education; earth sciences and mining and cultural cooperation
• Social security agreement, the foreign investment promotion and protection agreement, and mou on transportation are under negotiation and are expected to be concluded soon.