By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, SEPT 02, 2014: CANADIAN Minister and President of Treasury Board, Mr. Tony Clement called on Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy yesterday. The two Ministers announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries and sharing of experience in Personnel Management through Information Technology and Data Collection.

Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the visiting Minister, how during the last three months, different initiatives had been taken to accomplish Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's commitment for good governance. He particularly referred to the attempts to strengthen the federal structure of the Indian Union through the decision to wind up Planning Commission and replace it with another appropriate body.

He said, while the Modi Government is trying to introduce enhanced transparency and accountability in personnel management, there already exist a wide range of checks and balances in the working of the Indian governance system.

Dr. Jitendra Singh referred to the current phase of private public participation in India and hoped that in the background of consistently harmonious relationship between India and Canada, the two nations will mutually benefit.

Canadian Minister and President of Treasury Board, Mr. Clement shared his Government's inputs from “Canadian Open Data Experience” (CODE). He offered to share the same with his counter-part in India. Clement also referred to the Canadian Research Council which offered data inputs and feedback from time to time. He suggested that the Indian Government should provide its inputs and data which could help in improving the level of personnel management and governance in Canada as well.