Canada to give PM Modi 'rockstar' welcome, says envoy Patel

New Delhi: Canadian High Commissioner to India Nadir Patel on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be visiting the country at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper, will be given a 'rockstar' welcome.

"Canada is looking forward to this visit immensely. It is highly anticipated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be welcomed, welcomed with open arms not only by the government but by the Canadian community at large. Hope he will be welcomed and like a rockstar," Patel told a news agency.

"There is no doubt that there will be many opportunities for a lot of things to be discussed, trade, investment, innovation, range of issues related to relationship... culture, sport, film as well security and a number of areas. So, we are really looking forward to it," he added.

Patel said that it is the first time that the hosting country will be welcoming a Prime Minister on a bilateral visit in approximately 40 years.

"Certainly we are going to take full advantage of that to raise this relationship to even greater heights. There are a number of areas that we are exploring and further building for strong corporation already. That includes a wide range, science and technology, defence, renewable energy, skill development," he added.

"We are also looking at how Canadian capacity in some of the areas directly in interest to the Modi government like smart cities, intelligent cities is an example. Canada has three of the top five intelligent cities in the world... we have a lot of capacity that directly links to the Modi government's vision," Patel said.

Patel further said that Canada is also looking at promoting greater ties (Indo-Canada) in terms of not only trade but investment.

"We have some negotiations underway for comprehensive economic partnership agreement as well as foreign investment agreement. We are hopeful that we progress in that area as well," Patel added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for an eight-day, three nation visit to France, Germany and Canada later today, with the objective of holding bilateral talks as well as people to people contacts with all three key global economic powerhouses.

MEA Special Secretary (Americas and CPV) R Swaminathan had earlier on Wednesday said that this is the first stand-alone visit to Canada by an Indian Prime Minister in over 40 years.

"Prime Minister Modi is visiting Canada at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This is the first stand-alone Prime Ministerial visit to Canada in 42 years. Bilaterally, the intensity has been very high since July 2004. We consider Canada an important partner for our own developmental objectives through investment, trade and technology. Canada is the eleventh largest economy and their top five pension funds alone control nearly USD 700 billion. Canada is also an energy superpower and has a vibrant Indian community of 1.2 million," he said.

Elaborating further on the Prime Minister's schedule in Canada Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told the media, "Prime Minister Modi will reach Ottawa on April 14. On April 15 morning, he will have a ceremonial welcome, before calling on Canada Governor General David Johnston. He will then meet Prime Minister Harper for a working lunch. He will then travel to Toronto for a reception by Prime Minister Harper, before attending a Diaspora event."

"On April 16, there will be a pension fund meeting, followed by a visit to the Air India Memorial in Toronto. Thereafter, he will travel to Vancouver, where he will visit the Laxminarayan temple and a gurdwara, where he will interact with the Indian community. Later in the evening, he will attend a state dinner hosted by Prime Minister Harper, before leaving for India," he added.

"The overall objective is to alleviate, diversify and deepen our engagement across a whole range of fields and impart new vigour through concrete steps," he further said.