Alberta comes scouting for business with Punjab

JALANDHAR: Close on the heels of the Canadian Prime Ministerial delegation and the British Columbia team accompanied by the new set of selfstyled Punjabi ambassadors, it is now the turn of the oil and natural gas rich state of Alberta to come scouting for business with Punjab, besides of course the promotion of goodwill as Alberta has a burgeoning Punjabi population.
The hidden agenda this time does not appear to be the Punjabi vote bank alone but also selling Alberta with its scenic beauty for film shooting and its expertise in laying oil pipelines. The Alberta cabinet minister for community development and sports, Gene Zwazdesky, as usual follows the emotional route via the Golden Temple with the destination at ''Punjabi NRI capital'' Jalandhar.
He is accompanied by a team of young Punjabi entrepreneurs who have business and political ambitions on their agenda. With the gas pipeline project from Iran to India, there is a huge potential for refineries in Punjab, said H S Mann, a businessman, accompanying the delegation.
"In Alberta we have a lot of expertise in laying of pipelines. We have a number of national parks known for their scenic beauty. Sunny Deol''s ''The Hero'' was shot in Calgary and Bamff. Harbhajan Mann''s ''Jee Aaiyan Nu'' was partly shot in Alberta.
The minister would also be having a meeting with Bollywood producers to have tie-ups for future film shoots," said Gurbhalinder Sandhu, editor-in-chief of ''Des Pardes Times'' in Alberta. Sandhu is part of the new set of ambassadors who have arrived in advance to facilitate their minister''s visit.
Alberta House is to be set up in Delhi soon for exploring business possibilities in India, said Gursharan Dodd, who plans to contest the 2005 provincial elections in Alberta.
There are 2.3 million Punjabis in Alberta and the population has doubled in the last few years as the job opportunities in the oil and pipeline sector have increased. Punjabis are migrating from other provinces of Canada, said Gursharan Buttar who runs ''Sur Sangam'' radio.
One Krishan Joshi who migrated from Balachaur to Canada about 30 years ago heads the Wild Rose Foundation Charitable Society which has a budget of over $ 6 million. This Society has already initiated a number of health-related projects in India.
He is also starting some health-related projects in Punjab.