Canadian provinces seek better India ties

TORONTO: While relations between New Delhi and Ottawa may not be at their healthiest, India continues to be wooed at the sub-national level, with a number of leaders of Canadian cities and provinces making a beeline there to enhance economic ties.

Among the major groups working on boosting trade ties is a delegation from the Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA). Representatives from major Canadian municipalities, including Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City and Hamilton, are visiting India at this time. Travelling with them are representatives from the province of New Brunswick.

They will be present at the 8th annual Canada-India Business Forum in Mumbai, being organised on Thursday by the Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber. Headlining that particular meet will be the premier of Saskatchewan province ,Scott Moe, who is on a week-long visit to India. Moe was the keynote speaker at C-IBC’s annual Diwali gala in Toronto earlier this year.

Kasi Rao, president and CEO of C-IBC, said, “Our Annual Business Forum has a few new developments in terms of the agenda, building on prior work. CII has joined us as partner and we are very pleased to have their focus on Canada. This builds on our continued work with ICBC.

“As well, we welcome leading Canadian municipalities’ economic development representatives as part of the Consider Canada City Alliance. Looking at binational economic activity at the sub-national level will become increasingly important in the coming years.”

CCCA brings together 13 of Canada’s largest municipal regions, or 56% of its population and nearly two-thirds of its GDP. Its president Blair Patacairk will participate in the Mumbai forum.