New Delhi, Jan. 7 : Two Canadian ministers involved with that country''s development in the agricultural sector and immigration-related issues, will arrive in India on an official at the weekend.

Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board; and Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism are expected to use their visit to demonstrate the growing breadth of Canada-India relations in sectors ranging from agriculture to immigration, a Canadaian High Commission release said here today.

Ritz will be in India from January 10 to 14, during which time he will meet with his Indian counterparts and seek to enhance prospects for improved trade through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Union Minister for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sharad Pawar.

This agreement aims to promote exchange of knowledge in agricultural marketing, animal development and emerging agricultural technologies. Canada''s top agricultural exports to India in 2007 were pulses and wheat. Canada is also actively developing the Indian market for canola oil, livestock genetics, and value-added food products.

Kenney will visit New Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mumbai from January 11 to 18.

He will use his visit to review Canada''s immigration and visa operations in India, meet with Indian counterparts and business and education leaders to communicate Canada’s immigration policy innovations and Canada''s multicultural traditions, and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

In New Delhi he will deliver a keynote address on these issues to the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber, and visit the office of the Canadian Immigration Integration Project, which Canada recently opened to help Indian immigrants better prepare for the Canadian labour market, particularly through having their academic credentials and professional qualifications assessed.

In Mumbai, Minister Kenney will discuss facilitating the visa process for business travelers and top quality international students, and meet with civic and community leaders to express Canada''s condolences for the recent terrorist attacks.

India is one of Canada''s top source countries for immigrants and a rapidly growing source of visitors and temporary workers. Canada offers top-notch post-secondary education at a cost which is very competitive with other international destinations favoured by Indian students, the release concluded. (ANI)