India in Vancouver - Weekly Newsletter Vol. 05, Issue No. 07 February 19, 2021 Consulate Weekly Newsletter Consulate News Consul General Shri Manish had a fruitful discussion with Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at leaders from Calgary on February 18, 2021. Consul General Shri Manish visited Gurudwara Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha in Burnbay and met Shri Harjit Sohpaul, President on February 17, 2021. As part of celebration of 550th Prakash Purab of Satguru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj, Consul General presented a visually moving biography of ‘Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’ with a message from Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. He also presented a set of books on Sikhism, Sikh Heritage, Bhabasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhiji to the library of Gurudwara. Leaders of 35 Indo-Canadian organizations held a virtual meeting on 17th February with High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and Consul Generals in Vancouver and Toronto, Mr. Manish and Ms. Apoorva Srivastava respectively. They discussed inter alia India's offer to supply vaccines for Covid-19 to Canada and other issues of deeper relations and community concerns. They condemned attempts by extremists groups in Canada to intimidate members of the community at large and expressed the need to approach Canadian authorities in such cases to seek protection of Canadian law. On 16 February 2021, High Commissioner of India in Canada Mr. Ajay Bisaria and Consul General Mr. Manish attended an introductory meeting with His Worship Mayor Kennedy Stewart of City of Vancouver - Local Government. Both sides discussed issues of mutual interest including, COVID-19 vaccines from India, bilateral eco & trade, Startup ecosystem in the City of Vancouver. Important Trade Fairs in India Invest India Corner India - The Top Retail Destination The Retail market in India has undergone a major transformation and has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 10 years. The Overall Retail market is set to cross the $1.75 tn mark by 2026 from $795 bn in 2017. India’s e- commerce retail market which stood at $30 bn in 2019 is also set to grow at a CAGR of 30% for gross merchandise value to be worth $200 bn by 2026. Direct-to-Consumer segment could have a US $100 billion addressable market by 2025. India Perspectives - The Flagship Magazine of MEA Popular in India Statue of Unity It’s huge, almost gigantic! That is the first reaction most people have as they speed down the winding road leading to the towering Statue of Unity (SoU). Festivals and Feasts Vasant Panchami One of the most popular festivals in India, it is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. It is called Saraswati Puja in the state of West Bengal, where it is celebrated on a grand scale. Vasant Panchami falls on the fifth day of the month of Magh in the Hindu calendar, i.e between January and February. India – A tourism destination Steal moments from daily hustle-bustle, & spend it looking at nature's beauty nearby! One such beauty nestling in heritage city Delhi, with rich artistic carvings, is Lodi Garden. Make your evenings beautiful spending it by the greenery here. www.incredibleindia.org COVID-19 - Travel Advisories and Updates India assures Canada of vaccine supply in PM WHO hails India's COVID-19 vaccine efforts, Modi's phone call with 'friend' Justin Trudeau says 'should be very, very proud' Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime India's efforts to generate enough COVID-19 vaccine Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on the phone on to share with the world has earned praise for the Wednesday. This telephone chat between the two World Health Organisation (WHO) saying India leaders puts to rest speculations of straining managed to inoculate nearly six million in 22 days relationships between the two countries. which showd the government's diligence, discipline and vigour into their response to the campaign. Canadian PM praises India for holding dialogue Farmers’ protest: ‘Canadian PM commends with protesting farmers: MEA GOI’s efforts to choose path of dialogue’, says MEA Anurag Srivastava Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had commended the Indian government’s efforts to While addressing a press conference in the national choose the path of dialogue with protesting farmers capital on February 12, the official spokesperson of as befitting as democracy, the Ministry of External Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Anurag Srivastava Affairs said on Friday. spoke on farmers’ protest. Srivastava said, India supplied 229.7 lakh Covid-19 vaccine India exports Covid-19 vaccines worth about doses to global community: MEA Rs 338 cr so far: Goyal India has supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses of India's exports of the COVID-19 vaccine stood at coronavirus vaccine to the global community so far, around Rs 338 crore till February 8, Commerce and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Looking for 'extra' COVID-19 vaccines from India aims to be a leader in thought, action on India: Canadian PM climate Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau has Five years after the Paris Agreement, India is confirmed that his country is 'looking' for extra among the few developing countries that are not COVID-19 vaccines from India. Last week both Prime only meeting their “green” targets but are aspiring Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian PM Narendra Modi to more ambitious climate goals. At the recent spoke to each other with Modi assuring Trudeau of Climate Ambition Summit, Prime Minister Narendra COVID vaccine supplies. Modi articulated the Indian approach. India supplied corona vaccines to 25 countries; 49 more nations in line for Made-in-India vaccines External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that Made in India COVID vaccines were supplied to 25 nations and 49 countries across the world will be added soon. Speaking at the UNSC Open Debate on Implementation of Resolution 2532, Dr Jaishankar said 2 lakh doses will be given as a gift to UN Peacekeepers. TPCI Newsletter Consulate General of India #201-325 Howe Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 1Z7 Telephone: (604) 662-8811 Fax : (604) 682-2471 Telephone Number : 604-551-9626 (Strictly for emergencies only).