India and Canada signed three MoUs

India and Canada on 24 February 2014 signed three MoUs for cooperation in health sector, audio-visual co-production and skill development. At present David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada is on a nine day visit (22 February 2014 to 2 March 2014) to India and this visit is the first by a Canadian Governor General since 1998.

These MoUs were signed after talks between Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and David Johnston in New Delhi.

Features of the three MoUs
• The MoU between the Department of Biotechnology and Grand Challenges Canada would address the global health challenges especially women and child healthcare
• The audio-visual cooperation MoU is aimed at co-production in the field of film and Television. This MoU will enable Indian and Canadian film producers to utilize a platform for collaboration on various facets of film making. The agreement is expected to deepen the engagement between the critical sectors of the film industries of both countries there by, providing a new chapter of collaboration. This agreement was signed by the Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Bimal Julka and Stewart Beck, High Commissioner of Canada to India.
• Under the MoU on skill development, the two organisations namely National Skill Development Corporation and Association of Canadian Community College for Skill Development will facilitate exchange and learning

Other similar agreements in the field of audio-visual co-production signed by Indian government are
• In 2005 signed an agreement with Italian government
• In 2005, the Indian government also signed similar agreements with Government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• In 2007 it signed an agreement with Germany and Brazil
• In 2010 with France
• In 2011 with New Zealand
• In 2012 with Poland and Spain