Indian envoy visits British Columbia Legislative Assembly, holds talks on energy, investment
Ottawa, Dec 4
Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh K. Patnaik, visited the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian Province of British Columbia in a step to boost the bilateral partnership.
According to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, he met several leaders of British Columbia during the visit, including Raj Chouhan, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests and Sunita Dhir, Parliamentary Secretary.
Patnaik also held discussions with Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation and Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Mining and Critical Minerals of British Columbia.
The talks centred on enhancing two-way investments in mining, critical minerals and the energy sector, as well as advancing cooperation in quantum technologies, life sciences and gold exports between India and Canada.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said that Patnaik, along with his wife Poonam Patnaik, visited Treaty 7 land in Canada, marking the first-ever visit of an Indian High Commissioner to the region.
This historic visit on November 24 opened a new chapter in relationship-building between Indigenous Nations in Canada and India.
According to the Indian High Commission, the meeting explored shared histories, culture, and heritage, as well as opportunities for future collaboration between Indigenous peoples of Canada and communities across India.
"The High Commissioner conveyed the deep respect and affection that people in India have for Indigenous Nations. He recalled that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was deeply moved by the hospitality and cultural richness of Treaty 7 peoples during his meeting with Indigenous Chiefs in Kananaskis in June 2025," the Indian High Commission stated.
Patnaik reaffirmed India's strong interest in building meaningful and long-term partnerships with Indigenous communities in Canada.
He encouraged exploring the possibility of a Treaty 7 delegation visiting India and a reciprocal Indian delegation visiting Treaty 7, opening doors for cultural exchange, trade, and knowledge-sharing.
The Indian High Commissioner emphasised that his visit aimed to build lasting connections between Indigenous Nations in Canada and the people of India.
Patnaik also assured that he and the Indian mission will always remain fully committed to supporting and assisting indigenous communities in Canada, the Indian High Commission mentioned.
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— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone living in BC, it's great to see this engagement. The potential for collaboration in life sciences and quantum tech is huge. Hope this leads to more Indian students and professionals coming here.
Good move, but I hope the focus remains on tangible outcomes for India. We need secure supplies of critical minerals for our manufacturing and green energy goals. Talks are fine, but we need signed deals.
The part about connecting with Indigenous communities is heartwarming. India has so much to share in terms of traditional knowledge and sustainable practices. A cultural delegation would be fantastic!
Building bridges is always positive. The economic potential between BC and India is underutilized. This diplomatic outreach, especially including the Indigenous aspect, seems very thoughtful and comprehensive.
With so many Indians in BC, this makes perfect sense. Strengthening ties at the provincial level is smart diplomacy. Hope it translates into easier processes for trade and investment soon. Jai Hind!
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