Vol. 1, Issue # 3. April, 2020 Website : www.imec.biz Call - 416-827-5189 / (e-mail) [email protected] “ India Canada relations are too multi-faceted and people-centric to ever be in cold storage ” By: Vipul Jani The new High interactions. In keeping with the pleasure of joining a video intensification of cooperation Commissioner of India to social distancing norms, we have conference organized by CII and collaboration. Our bilateral Canada, His Excellency Mr. Ajay avoided face to face meetings, with Indian companies working trade in goods has grown from Bisaria took charge at a time but I do the introductory tele- in Canada. I have similarly held about $8 billion in 2015 to over when we were just waking up meetings with movers and video conferences with Indian $10 billion in 2019. Trade in to the rapidly growing threats shakers in Canada. I had a community organizations services is over C$ 4 billion. of Corona Virus. The world, wonderful start with meeting and Indian student leaders in Portfolio investments from as we know it, has changed the Hon’ble Governor General Canada. I think this style of Canada to India have jumped dramatically since then. working is a precursor to a more from US$5 billion to US$45 With all the bilateral visits efficient workplace of the future. billion in the same time. Our and personal meetings off for We can’t replace that eye contact steel and pharmaceutical exports months, how do one understand and handshake, but the video to Canada have grown. India the intricacies of Canada India call is here to stay. has become a major buyer of file, where are the bilateral • Corona has put Canadian products ranging relations headed in the short and everything else in a deep from potash to coking coal to long term ? Canada India Insight High Commissioner of India freeze, however, can you uranium. Editor Vipul Jani discussed it to Canada share positive developments There has been a massive with the High Commissioner in that indicate Canada India upsurge in number of students Mr. Ajay Bisaria an e-mail interview : relations are coming out of from India to Canada for post- • You came to Canada when I presented my credentials the cold storage it has been secondary education. With on March 01 and soon after to her. I have had detailed and in lately ? 225,000 students now, India things started closing down. candid discussions with our India Canada relations is the largest contributor of How challenging has it been colleagues in Global Affairs are too multi-faceted and international students in to get to know the Canada Canada, with Minister Navdeep people-centric to ever be in Canada. These students bring in file as you can’t meet a lot of Bains and Minister Bardish cold storage. We see a global almost $7 billion every year as Policy makers, Captains of Chagger. I had a detailed dip in traditional diplomatic tuition fees alone. We have seen Industry and Policy Think discussion with Deputy Minister activity as governments quite a spurt in PhD collaborations tanks in person right now ? for Foreign Affairs Marta rightly prioritize handling the between Canadian Universities I came to Canada in Morgan and with Canada’s Chief current pandemic. But the Indo- and Indian counterparts. We interesting times. We are all Trade Commissioner Ailish Canadian strategic partnership have similarly seen collaboration trying to adapt to re-defined Campbell. remains warm and strong. The in science and technology, work spaces and digital On the business side, I had last few years have seen an Continued on Page 9 Impact Media & Events Corporation (IMEC), in association with presents... Supported by: An interactive, thought-provoking Conference on Canada-India relations. Session 1 : Delegations from Canada to India & India to Canada : Beyond the photo-ops Session 2 : Realities of Today & Vision for Tomorrow His excellency Mr. Ajay Bisaria Hon. Vic Fedeli His Excellency Mr. Anshuman Gaur Mr. David Agnew Mr. Sandeep Goel Canada India USA High Commissioner of India. Minister - Govt. of Ontario Deputy High Commissioner of India President, Seneca College President & CEO, ICICI Bank Canada Development Forum Friday, October 23, 2020. Venue : Paramount Eventspace, 222 Rowntree Dairy Rd, Woodbridge ON L4L 9T2 For Tickets / Table / Sponsorships Contact : Vipul Jani (email) [email protected] (Call) 416.827.5189 / Website: imec.biz 2 Indian Origin MPs in Canada Gagan Sikand Liberal MP Honourable Anju Dhillon Arif Virani The Honourable Bob Saroya Chandra Arya Anita Anand Bardish Chagger Liberal MP Liberal MP Conservative MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP The Honourable Navdeep Bains Liberal MP The Honourable Jasraj Singh Jag Sahota Jagmeet Singh Kamal Khera Maninder Sidhu Harjit Sajjan Hallan Conservative MP NDP MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Conservative MP Tim Uppal Conservative MP Raj Saini Ramesh Sangha Randeep Sarai Ruby Sahota Sonia Sidhu Sukh Dhaliwal Shaun Chen Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Liberal MP Canada India Insight www.imec.biz 3 the same venue. encouraging their companies to In an interview given to move out of China (according Times Now News Channel in to several news reports) and India, Steve Bannon, a very with China’s labour costs also Editorial influential US strategist, once moving upwards, this can be a - Vipul Jani very close to President Trump god-send opportunity for India ( he was also part of Trump to get it’s act together, amend administration in the first year) / tweak a few rules and attract Between the last edition among themselves what they are called Corona a “ bio-Chernobyl” global companies to shift their (March) and this one (April), doing, for so many weeks now ? moment and strongly urged manufacturing bases to India. thousands of Canadians, Indians Non stop one point bombing of nations to take on China now, On the bilateral front, and close to two hundred Corona. As they say, if you can’t before it’s too late. He called while Canada India bilateral thousand people globally have make something better, atleast Prime Minister Modi a visionary trade is going up (from $ 8 lost their lives to Corona / don’t make it worse. leader, praised his efforts billion in 2015 to $ 10 billion in Covid / Chinese Virus, what While we hear some profusely and hoped the US 2019, trade and investment pacts ever you want to call it. Being chatter about some sectors of could follow his lead. Bannon - the CEPA and BIPPA need to diplomatic about the name the economy opening up sooner also called for countries like be taken up for a time bound doesn’t change a thing. Fact is, than others, some countries USA, India, Japan, Australia discussion and completion. The people and businesses are dying becoming more liberal than the and Brazil, with possibly UK and usual fault lines still remain everywhere, everyday, with no rest in terms of relaxing norms, France joining later, to come and have to be addressed to visible consequences for either these are still very early days. together to counter China’s see real movement on other China or the WHO. President India and Canada are relatively aggressive predatory economic fronts. Corona is forcing people Trump’s withholding funding better off, if we can call it that, policies and activities (he to rethink their priorities, for WHO may actually have a as compared to Italy or Spain or compared them to the infamous appreciate what they have and completely opposite effect than UK or USA. But, this thing is not East India Company) stay away from people that may what he wished for. China may over yet. Whether such a coalition cause trouble (social distancing) fill that gap and the US will lose People are worried for takes shape or not, the present It’s time countries do the same, prominence at one more global their jobs and whether they situation can be a blessing in including Canada. platform. will get it back when things do disguise for Mr. Modi’s flagship Anyway, I don’t want to restart, Businesses are worried “ Make in India ” program. write more about the Virus as of going under for good. The new Countries like Japan are actively we are already being bombarded workplace may not be the same with a serious overdose of virus as we know it today. Companies coverage. As a Print Journalist will go for more and more for 31 years, I am appalled at automation, people will have TORONTO CANADA the carpet bombing of Corona to learn new technology and Coverage on all news channels in skills and self employment will India, Canada and USA. I mean, become a necessity, not a choice, any day, anytime, any channel, for millions of people in Canada, all they are talking about is India and everywhere else. Open to Corona Corona Corona. Have In our 3rd edition of they all gone mad collectively ? Canada India Insight, we People are already stressed out, have interviews with the new the World. depressed, looking for a break, High Commissioner of India don’t make it impossible for to Canada, with the Chief Choose from more than 170 programs. them. Economist at Canadian Chamber Each one designed with input from Is there absolutely nothing of Commerce, Guest Columns business and industry leaders and will else happening anywhere, worth and more. A You Tube Channel prepare you for success. showing for half an hour or an is also on the way where you will • 4-year bachelor’s degrees hour a day ? Nothing ? Giving be able to see the Interviews. The • 2- and 3- year workplace-ready diplomas updates is very important, but Canada India Insight Conference • 1-year career focused post-graduate certificates* what we are getting in the name in Vaughan, originally scheduled of coverage is making me sick for March 25 has now been big time.