Web Desk
TORONTO: In the first post-COVID high-level business visit from India, a 40-member delegation of IT companies is in Canada on an 11-day visit.
Led by NASSOCAM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) vice president Dr Shivendra Singh, the delegation held business meetings with their Canadian counterparts on a whole gamut of issues – IT and BPM services, software development, outsourcing and consultancy, AI-enabled automation, CRM, data science, cloud migration, data analytics, cyber security and game and app development.
Hosting the delegation in Toronto, Canada India Foundation (CIF) chairman Satish Thakkar said his organization would like to work with NASSCOM to pursue goals that would benefit businesses and people in both countries.
Thakkar said, “CIF is a trusted name, familiar to a large number of businesses and political leaders in Canada. We can act as a strong bridge that connects and helps create synergies between NASSCOM members and their Canadian partners. I would like to see a mutually advantageous relationship develop between NASSCOM and CIF, making use of our core strengths to facilitate even greater opportunities for India’s IT sector.”
He said Canadian industry and governments provide a very welcoming environment for businesses that want to set up operations in Canada and use it as a launch pad to expand in North American and South American continents.
Thakkar said CIF was privileged to host “you – you represent an industry that clearly has earned the respect and admiration of the world.”
Lauding the efforts of CIF in promoting bilateral ties, Indian Consul General in Canada Apoorva Srivastava narrated India’s lea into a digital economy. “And it is enabled by three factors – a billion plus phone connections, a billion plus bank accounts and a billion plus UI (Aadhar cards) that ensures financial inclusivity as well as integrity of the government systems.”
The Consul General said any business begins first with a relationship and urged the delegates to take advantage of the expertise and knowledge in-built in organizations like the CIF to learn, not just about the markets, but even “questions you may have of a more personal nature, like your children’s education.”
Welcoming the delegation, Nina Tangri, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, recalled her 2019 trip to India with Minister of Economic Development and Trade Vic Fedeli that resulted in “a lot of investment for us in Ontario.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic has presented the world with challenges that know no boundaries. In good times, we know how important trade and cooperation are. But it is during the bad times, in our greatest moments of need, we truly appreciate how critical and impactful our international relations can be.”
Noting the efforts made by individuals, organizations like CIF and the government to reach out to India with much needed supplies during its brutal third wave, Tangri stated: “International cooperation is the path to beat the Covid-19 pandemic and to secure our economic recovery. Ontario will always be there standing shoulder to shoulder with our international partners. As the world recovers, our government urges you to leverage our highly skilled workforce, competitive business environment and access to markets.”
Shivendra Singh, Vice President & Head – Global Trade Development, NASSCOM and head of the delegation, said Canada has always been a good destination for NASSCOM members, and assured the gathering that they remain passionate about the relationship despite the weather!
He said, “The tech industry in India was only around $50 million beginning of the ‘90s and today it is a $200 billion industry, 8 percent of India’s total GDP. I believe the India Canada technology partnership is at a tipping point. Over the past two years, since we signed an MoU with Ontario, there has been a huge spike in interest. So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that in the past two years, our first in person meeting is being held right here in Canada. This is a testimony to the strength of our partnership.”
The CIF reception for the NASSCOM delegation was sponsored by Colliers International, a Canada-based diversified professional services and investment management company with more than 400 offices in 68 countries including a strong presence in India.
Peter Garrigan, Managing Director, Colliers, invited the delegates to take advantage of their expertise that goes beyond just real estate to encompass critical areas like construction management, asset management, capital. “We have all these in house, we are not just a real estate brokerage house. We really try to understand the challenges of our developers, clients, landlords, tenants and our investors. We offer a full place of services.” His colleague at Colliers, Dhrumil Mehta, added, “including market intelligence and competition mapping.”
CIF Treasurer Girish Kekre thanked the delegates and the sponsors, volunteers, the Holiday Day Inn staff and management in making it a productive event to advance the Canada India relationship. He also thanked the media outlets that have continuously supported the efforts of CIF.
Ms. Vase Sarmah played the role of Master of Ceremony.
As India’s premier IT industry association, NASSOCAM has over 3,000 members. (Press release)
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