Canada announces a new visa regime for Indians

Giving a fillip to Indo-Canada traderelations, Toronto has announced a new visa regime that will allow Indians 10years multiple entry visa to the country.

The announcement was made by Canadian Minister ofInternational Trade Edward Fast at a meeting with delegates of the Indiangovernment and business community at the two-day mini Parvasi Bharatiya DivasCanada 2011 convention that began in Torontoon Friday.

Fast said the new visa process would be available to Indianswho travelled to Canadafrequently.

"After an initial visa screening, applicants can get avisa that allow them to visit Canadaoften,  as long as their passports arevalid up to ten years," Fast said.

Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur who isleading the Indian delegation said both countries were committed to strengthentheir bilateral trade relations.

"The Indo-Canadian community is a microcosm of thepeople of Indian origin living abroad," she said.

"Indiaand Canadawill soon sign the Social Security Agreement, conclude a bilateral InvestmentProtection Agreement, negotiate a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreementand complete an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,"she said, adding both nations aim at a bilateral trade target of $15 billion innext five years.

Both countries were in talks for a Comprehensive EconomicPartnership Agreement that would yield significant economic benefit and lower tariffon a large number of products for both the countries.