News 

ICCC Weekly Newsletter - 5 June 2021

Announcement

Tauseef Sheikh is the 33rd President of ICCC

Tauseef Sheikh

The elected members of the Board of Directors of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce unanimously nominated Tauseef Sheikh as the 33rd President of the Chamber at a meeting held Friday 4 June 2021.

Setting priorities for his tenure, Tauseef said, "Membership and Sponsorship are the two main focus areas for the Board. We have to understand that our Chamber is a community as well as a business institution that represents the aspirations and hope of the Indo-Canadian business community. My endeavour will be to make our membership more broad-based and work with new and existing sponsors to help them derive value for their sponsorship."

One of the senior-most Board members, Tauseef has been associated with the Chamber for more than a decade, and was instrumental in launching the India Chapter of the Chamber in 2018. He has been on the ICCC Board for the last four years, and has held and handled varied positions and portfolios including Vice President and Corporate Secretary; Vice President, Membership Engagement; Director, Sponsorship, New Immigrants & Mentorship.

He is a seasoned, top-performing banking professional with experience in Global Banking, Retail Banking and Wealth Management. Tauseef's journey in Canada began following an international secondment when he was sent to HSBC Bank in Canada from HSBC India as a part of the start-up team of the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) office in Canada. His association with the ICCC began immediately upon his arrival in Canada.

He was responsible for building a North American platform for providing onshore and offshore banking products with particular focus on cross- border Private Banking services. subsequently, in 2018, he was again sent to India on an international secondment to set up crossborder business for global Indians.

He is also the Ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion with HSBC in Canada. He believes in giving back to the community.

Vikas Sharma is ICCC's Vice President & Corporate Secretary

Vikas Sharma

Following Tauseef Sheikh's elevation to the President's position, the elected members of the Board appointed Vikas Sharma to the post of Vice President and Corporate Secretary. Vikas has been on the ICCC Board since 2020.

Since 2006, Vikas has been the President and Owner of a post-industrial plastics recycling company in Toronto, Canada. The firm specializes in trading a wide variety of secondary fiber, post-industrial plastics and raw material to build the efficiency and profitability of its customers recycling operations.

Vikas has significant experience in international trade and over the last two decades, Vikas has exported to China, India, Vietnam, Mexico and the USA. He specialises in India and North America trade.

Vikas is the President and Founder of the Care4Cause Foundation, which offers dignity, compassion and respect to individuals suffering poverty and unfortunate circumstances. Vikas joined the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation in 2019 as Director and worked on expanding its Christmas Miracle on Main Street toy drive charity event to Brampton.

In the News - Canada

G7 deal on minimum corporate tax

Make tech giants pay fair share

Britain's treasury chief said the world's richest countries have signed a landmark global agreement to confront tax avoidance and make sure giant tech companies pay their fair share.

Rishi Sunak said finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations signed the agreement on the second and final day of meetings in London.

They said they have agreed to commit to a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15 per cent on a country by country basis.

"I'm delighted to say that G-7 finance ministers today, after years of discussions, have reached a historic agreement to reform the global tax system to make it fit for the global digital age and crucially to make sure that it's fair so that the right companies pay the right tax in the right places," Sunak said.

Read more: G7 Tax

EVERY CHILD MATTERS

The horrific discovery of the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, at a former residential school site in BC has shocked the world, and once again brought Canada upfront and close to its colonial and racist past. In 21st century it seems inconceivable that an institution that was meant to eradicate a culture could survive for over a century – from the late 1800s to 1996.

The history of the Residential Schools is a gory and macabre chapter in Canada’s history. Approximately 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were separated from their families and forced to attend boarding schools, where at least one in every 50 of these students died, according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The aim of this network of schools was to eliminate Indigenous language and culture and replace them with English and Christian beliefs respectively.

Although evidence of forced assimilation was found as early as the 17th century -- well before Confederation -- the practice became Canadian public policy by the late 1800s. In these residential schools, children were forbidden from practicing their culture, and were often subjected to physical and sexual abuse.

The issue is not just limited to missing children. Missing indigenous women is a growing concern, as well. The economic backwardness of the indigenous communities is a matter of deep concern. They are deprived of safe drinking water, face food insecurity, and lack access to basic healthcare, especially mental health, which is the main cause of high suicide rate among Canada’s indigenous people.

As immigrants, Indo-Canadians should educate themselves of the traumatic history and the contemporary condition of the indigenous people of Canada. They constitute approximately 5% of Canada’s population, and their numbers are rising rapidly.

Read more:

The Indian Act (link)

Indian Residential School System (link)

News Backgrounder (link)

High cost of food (link)

2020 Annual Report to Parliament (link)

Missing indigenous women (link)

An Appeal for India

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations. 

Read more: Appeal for India: Updated List of Organizations

In the News: India

Seven Years of NDA Government in India

List of achievements

1: Ease of doing business

2: Ease of living

3. Eliminating corruption

4. Empowering youth

5. Health for all

6. Infrastructure for growth

7. Mobility for middleclass

8. Nari Shakti for New India

9. Prosperous farmers for Prosperous India

10. Putting India first

11. Renewed focus on Northeast

12. Social Empowerment

13. Taking development to the poorest

14. Transformative economic growth

15. India fights Covid-19

Read more: 7 years

Past Programs

Oxygen for India - 16 May

Watch the recording here

Oxygen for India - 30 May

Watch the recording here

Advertisement

Range Promo: Branded Merchandise

ICCC Weekly Newsletter – 25 May 2021

Young Adults Demand: Climate Action, Now!

German court declares country's 2019 climate legislation puts more burden on future generations and not enough on the present. Effective climate protection has to be implemented now and not in 10 years' time, when it'll be too late.

Greta Thunberg

Ever since Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish climate activist, stood outside the Swedish Parliament in 2018, with a placard that said, ‘School strike for climate change’, the world has begun to realize that the impact of climate change will be disproportionately more on future generations. There is a grudging acknowledgment that the present generation has to sacrifice more to ensure that the future generation is not unduly burdened with the problem.

On April 29, the Constitutional Court in Germany sided with nine young Germans against the German federal government in a case pertaining to climate change. The court agreed the country’s landmark climate legislation, passed in 2019, put too much of a burden on future generations and didn't take enough responsibility in the present.

“The provisions irreversibly offload major emission reduction burdens onto periods after 2030,” the court ruled, ordering the government to change the legislation.

Many courts have turned out to be receptive to that argument. The first breakthrough came in the Netherlands in 2019, when the Supreme Court ordered the government to cut the nation's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent from 1990 levels by the end of 2020.

Young Canadians for climate action

The attorney representing the young Germans exulted that the verdict recognizes for the first time that freedom must be guaranteed not only here and now, but also intertemporally and globally — that is, across generations and across state borders. Germany's Minister of Economy and Energy Peter Altmaier agreed, calling it “epochal for climate protection and the rights of young people.”

According to a CBC report, the German court’s verdict is a big morale booster to 22 young Canadians who are pursuing a similar case against the Canadian government. The lawsuit is sponsored by the David Suzuki Foundation and the Oregon-based Our Children’s Trust. The suit is intended to force the federal government to adopt more stringent emissions targets.

Globally, young people are awakening to their rights and their future, and are not interested in being obedient to their parents' generation. This rebellion is slowly building and transcending to other issues beside climate change.

Read more:

Young climate activists beat Germany's government in court (link)

Germany must tighten climate law to protect young people's future (link)

15 Canadian kids sue their government over climate change (link)

Greta Thunberg profile (link)

Disha Ravi profile (link)

Insight

IMF's proposal to end the Covid-19 pandemic

By Kristalina Georgieva, Gita Gopinath, & Ruchir Agarwal

Many countries have stepped up in the global fight against the pandemic, as have institutions such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, Gavi (the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), the African Union, and others.

Yet, more than a year into the COVID-19 crisis, new cases worldwide are higher than ever. Urgent action is needed to arrest the rising human toll and economic strain.

As the IMF has warned, economic recoveries are diverging dangerously. The disparities will widen further between wealthy countries that have widespread access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, and poorer countries still struggling to inoculate frontline healthcare workers.

As of the end of April 2021, less than two percent of Africa’s population had been vaccinated. By contrast, over 40 percent of the population in the United States and over 20 percent in Europe had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

It is well understood that there can be no lasting end to the economic crisis without an end to the health crisis. Pandemic policy is thus economic policy. It is critical for global macroeconomic and financial stability, which makes it of fundamental importance to the IMF and other economic institutions. Ending the pandemic is a solvable problem but requires further coordinated global action.

The latest research by IMF staff analyzes multiple dimensions of the fight against the pandemic and proposes realistic targets to bring the pandemic substantially under control everywhere—and the means to achieve them. Building on the work of other agencies, the proposal aims to:

• vaccinate at least 40 percent of the population in all countries by the end of 2021 and at least 60 percent by the first half of 2022,
• track and insure against downside risks, and
• ensure widespread testing and tracing, maintain adequate stocks of therapeutics, and enforce public health measures in places where vaccine coverage is low.

Importantly, the strategy requires not just commitments but upfront financing, upfront vaccine donations, and “at-risk” investment for the world to insure against downside scenarios.

To read more, click here

An Appeal for India

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations. 

Read more: Appeal for India: Updated List of Organizations

Past Program

Oxygen for India

Watch the recording here

Message from

Hon. Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta

To watch, click here

Advertisement

Range Promo: Branded Merchandise

CONNEXT 2021

ICCC's Virtual Trade Mission to India has been rescheduled to the third quarter of 2021. New dates will be announced later.

Download presentation: CONNEXT 2021

Click here for details: CONNEXT 2021

Click here to register: Delegate Registration

In the News: India

Digital payments rising rapidly

Digital payments in India have swelled to 25.5 billion real-time online transactions in 2020, and are expected to account for 71.7% share of all the payments by 2025, according to a ACI Worldwide report released recently.

ACI Worldwide that provides payment solutions to corporations across the globe.

According to the report, by 2025, cash and cheques, the other payment alternatives, will occupy only 28.3% share. Also, of the overall payments in 2020, instant payments accounted for a 15.6% share, 22.9% was other electronic payments and paper-based payments commanded a 61.4% share.

TELUS Business Exclusive Offer

For details, click here

ICCC Weekly Newsletter – 17 May 2021

The power of giving

VIJAY THOMAS

President, ICCC

On 16 May our Chamber organized Oxygen for India virtual coast-to-coast marathon fundraiser. The program will continue for the next three Sundays – 23 May, 30 May and 6 June.

I may sound a bit immodest, but I am proud to report that the program was an unprecedented success. It received tremendous support and participation from political decisionmakers, diplomatic corps, community leaders and perhaps more importantly individuals.

The twin objectives of Oxygen for India were not just to raise resources but also to raise awareness. And it is heartening that the program succeeded in achieving both these objectives in full measure.

For me, personally, it is immensely gratifying that we have been able to enthuse individuals to come forward and contribute to the cause. It is the participation of individuals who dip into their purse and contribute $25 or $50 or $100 that really makes an effort such as this one genuinely people focused and oriented.

It takes a lot for an individual to give to charity and the fact that our campaign managed to touch the hearts of so many people is a cause for celebration.

We have done our part - have you?

Campaign

Our purpose is to help India. As I said in my interview to Jessica Cheung of CBC on Sunday, “This is something that the best of nations, if they got hit with what hit India, they would not be able to do it on their own as well. They would need help as well.”

I am confident that in the next three weeks we will reach our target of raising two million dollars for Oxygen for India project; and in the process, we would have created awareness on an unprecedented scale.

A project of this magnitude is only possible when a team coalesces together perfectly to achieve common objectives. I want to place on record the contribution of our team that worked selflessly and strenuously to make the program a success – Ramesh Chotai of Vraj Community Services and our Chamber’s past president and a former Advisory Board member; Dave Kapil of New Brampton, and a community leader who has dedicated his life to philanthropy and community service; Bidhu Jha, former MLA of Manitoba; Aruna Anand, a devoted and well-connected community leader; Bhavik Parikh, my colleague on the board; and Ajay Tandon, our Chamber’s past VP and Director.

I invite you to participate in our forthcoming programs that we will be organizing on the next three Sundays. Participate and contribute. This is for India, and as Indo-Canadians, it is our duty to come forward and do our bit.

Report on 16 May 2021 program

TORONTO: The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) launched its 'Oxygen for India' marathon fundraiser to collect $2 million to send oxygen equipment to India. Almost $500,000 was raised during the very first session of the marathon fundraiser on Sunday. It will be held for three hours every Sunday for four weeks.

ICCC president Vijay Thomas said their initiative aims at garnering donations not only from the 1.6 million Indo-Canadian community, but also businesses and cities across Canada. “The money will be used to send oxygen concentrators and generators and we will find new pathways to send oxygen to India. We want to ensure that oxygen reaches tier 2 and 3 cities and towns before they get severely hit by the virus,” Thomas said.

Top business owners and medical professionals took part in the marathon fundraiser. Among the political decisionmakers who participated in the program included Hon. Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Public Services and Procurement; Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Hon. Kelvin Goertzen, Deputy Premier of Manitoba; David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation; Mayors Bonnie Crombie (Mississauga); Patrick Brown (Brampton); and Frank Scarpitti (Markham). They individually appealed to their constituents to contribute to the Oxygen for India campaign.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that 2,000 additional ventilators are being sent to India, in addition to 3,000 already delivered. “The whole plane-load of Air Canada is filled from front to back and arriving (in India) by Tuesday with all sorts of supplies. The people of India have been there for us and we will be there for them,” the Ontario Premier said, referring to India’s delivery of one million vaccine doses to Canada earlier this year.

The biggest contribution of $50,000 came from Canada’s native or indigenous Metis people. “We have similarities with Indians even though we are from different parts of the world. India will be there for us when we need, and we should be there for them now. We will donate $50,000 to the ICCC and do more if needed,” announced David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation.

Virtual coast-to-coast marathon fundraiser

Watch the recording here

And join us on 23 May, 30 May & 6 June

Organizing Core Committee

Vijay Thomas

Ramesh Chotai

Dave Kapil

Aruna Anand

Bidhu Jha

Bhavik Parikh

In the News: Oxygen for India coverage

CBC: Toronto non-profit organization raises over $400K to send oxygen to India as it fights COVID-19. Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce aims to raise $2M through virtual fundraisers on Sundays (link)

Weekly Voice (link)

The New Indian Express (link)

CanIndia (link)

Financial Express (link)

Daily Hamdard (link)

Navhind Times (link)

Hindustan Times (link)

FR24 (link)

The Tribune (link)

Outlook (link)

Prime Asia TV - News Snippet (link)

Prime Asia TV - Exclusive Interviews (link)

Omni TV (link)

Advertisement

Range Promo: Branded Merchandise

An Appeal for India

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations. 

Read more: Appeal for India:

Updated List of Organizations

CONNEXT 2021

ICCC's Virtual Trade Mission to India has been rescheduled to the third quarter of 2021. New dates will be announced later.

Download presentation: CONNEXT 2021

Click here for details: CONNEXT 2021

Click here to register: Delegate Registration

TELUS Business Exclusive Offer

For details, click here

Youth Membership

At a Meeting held recently, the Board of Directors decided that from January 2021, Youth Membership would be restricted to University and College students only. All Youth Members will have to provide proof of being a valid student in a Canadian educational institution. 

TORONTO: The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) launched its 'Oxygen for India' marathon fundraiser to collect $2 million to send oxygen equipment to India. Almost $500,000 was raised during the very first session of the marathon fundraiser on Sunday. It will be held for three hours every Sunday for four weeks.

ICCC president Vijay Thomas said their initiative aims at garnering donations not only from the 1.6 million Indo-Canadian community, but also businesses and cities across Canada. “The money will be used to send oxygen concentrators and generators and we will find new pathways to send oxygen to India. We want to ensure that oxygen reaches tier 2 and 3 cities and towns before they get severely hit by the virus,” Thomas said.

Top business owners and medical professionals took part in the marathon fundraiser. Among the political decisionmakers who participated in the program included Hon. Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Public Services and Procurement; Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Hon. Kelvin Goertzen, Deputy Premier of Manitoba; David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation; Mayors Bonnie Crombie (Mississauga); Patrick Brown (Brampton); and Frank Scarpitti (Markham). They individually appealed to their constituents to contribute to the Oxygen for India campaign.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that 2,000 additional ventilators are being sent to India, in addition to 3,000 already delivered. “The whole plane-load of Air Canada is filled from front to back and arriving (in India) by Tuesday with all sorts of supplies. The people of India have been there for us and we will be there for them,” the Ontario Premier said, referring to India’s delivery of one million vaccine doses to Canada earlier this year.

The biggest contribution of $50,000 came from Canada’s native or indigenous Metis people. “We have similarities with Indians even though we are from different parts of the world. India will be there for us when we need, and we should be there for them now. We will donate $50,000 to the ICCC and do more if needed,” announced David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation.

ICCC Weekly Newsletter 09 May 2021

The magic of Indian elections

Voters displaying their voter identity cards while queuing up to cast their ballot

Unlike the elections held in many totalitarian regimes, where the results are known prior to being declared, the Indian election are democratic, and have unerringly reflected the people’s choice, whether it was the massive mandate that Narendra Modi got in 2019 or Mamata Banerjee in 2021.

Equally importantly, the people’s mandate has always been respected by political parties, with transition of power guaranteed based on election results. It is a different matter that in rare cases, post-election horse-trading of elected representatives subverts people’s mandate.

But beyond the obvious politics of elections, there is an incomparable logistical story behind the elections. Indian elections are a gargantuan exercise. The 17th Lok Sabha or lower house of India’s bicameral parliament was elected based on the results of the world’s biggest election conducted in the summer of 2019. This was the largest democratic and the most expensive election in the world.

With over 900 million eligible voters from over a billion population, spread over seven phases, the 2019 elections saw more than 8,000 candidates and 645 political parties in fray for 543 Parliamentary seats.

The Election Commission of India, the non-partisan agency that organises elections in India, puts in a lot of effort to make this democratic exercise as accessible as possible. India’s budget has allocated 2.62 billion rupees to the Election Commission in 2019, a new high.

Election Commission officials reaching remote corners of India to ensure all eligible voters can cast their ballot

The legion of officials that is deployed by the Election Commission ensures that everyone, even in the most remote locations, is near a polling booth. In India, there is a law that election voting machines must be placed within 2 kilometers of every voter.

The Indian Election Commission has faced large costs organizing an election with polling stations running from 15,000 feet above sea level in the Himalayas and one for a sole hermit deep in the jungles of Western India.

The Election Commission uses some of the funds allocated for hiring elephants to carry electronic voting machines to relatively inaccessible regions, and boats to ferry men and materials across the mighty Brahmaputra river in the northeast.

These costs don't include the amount that political parties spend on canvassing for votes. According to the New Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies, the 2019 general elections cost India $7billion.

Read more:

Indian Lok Sabha Elections Statistics & Facts (link)

How India runs the world's biggest elections (link)

Elections in India (link)

WORK WITH INDIA
TO CONQUER THE
2ND WAVE OF COVID-19

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is organizing ‘OXYGEN FOR INDIA’, a marathon fundraiser to help India fight the deadly second Covid-19 wave. We believe that alone not much can be achieved, but ‘TOGETHER’, we can do so much more, hence we are bringing together more than 82 other Indo-Canadian organizations to aid us in this humanitarian effort.

From coast to coast, we are armed with the purpose of raising awareness and resources for oxygen to India. Our efforts are aimed at providing an opportunity to the 1.6 million-strong Indo-Canadian community and the 36 million Canadians to participate in this charitable program.

Among the community organizations that will be participating include Vraj Community Services, Panorama India, New Brampton, Meiti Group (Manitoba). Many more community organizations will join the program next week.

Prominent political decisionmakers, member of the diplomatic corps, public figures, influencers, among others will participate in the program. Both the Canadian and Indian media will extensively cover the program.

Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a program that will go down in history as epochal and path-breaking

Organizing Core Committee

• Vijay Thomas
• Ramesh Chotai
• Dave Kapil

An Appeal for India

Vijay Thomas

President, ICCC

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations. 

Read more: Appeal for India: Updated List of Organizations (link)

CONNEXT 2021

ICCC's Virtual Trade Mission to India has been rescheduled to the third quarter of 2021. New dates will be announced later.

Download presentation: CONNEXT 2021

Click here for details: CONNEXT 2021

Click here to register: Delegate Registration

Advertisement

Range Promo: Working for your image

In the News: Canada

Trends in businesses’ needs for personal protective equipment

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) across the globe which has led to uncertainty about supplies and inventories of PPE. Various public health guidelines which restricted operations of businesses were implemented across the country to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In February 2021, to allow for the reopening of the economy, some of the implemented restrictions were alleviated across the country in varying degrees. The Personal Protective Equipment Survey (PPES) provides a portrait of demand and supply of PPE in Canada allowing decision makers to respond to the evolving needs of Canadian businesses. This article examines the evolution of private sector businesses’ demand and supply of PPE using data from the February 2021 PPES.

Just under two-thirds (66.1%) of businesses reported that they needed, or expected to need, PPE in order to operate in accordance with COVID-19 related public health guidelines. This is roughly unchanged from December 2020 (66.9%).

Different sectors of the economy continue to have varying demands for PPE. Businesses in the services-producing sector were more likely to demand PPE with more than three-quarters of businesses in educational services (92.1%), health care and social assistance (84.3%), retail trade (84.0%), and accommodation and food services (79.5%) demanding PPE compared to less than half of businesses in professional, scientific and technical services (41.9%) and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (27.7%).

Read more: Adapting to a new reality (link)

In the News: India

Indian Ayurveda Industry

The healthcare market in India is evolving at a rapid pace. It is one of the fastest growing industries with an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% from 2015 to 2020 and is expected to be a $280 billion market by 2021. Rising income levels, the growing geriatric population, greater penetration of healthcare in rural settings, and increasing health awareness with an emphasis on “preventative healthcare,” is expected to enhance the demand for healthcare services.

India’s National Health Policy aims at achieving Universal Health Coverage and delivering quality healthcare to all at an affordable cost. The policy aims at providing a comprehensive primary health package which includes major communicable, non-communicable and chronic diseases, geriatrics, palliative and rehabilitative care.

For a vast country like India, to achieve this goal with just the modern medicine system in place is a herculean task, as even modern therapies have their own drawbacks such as burgeoning costs, quality of life issues, and the inability to prevent and cure many diseases.

However, Ayurveda can change this outlook of healthcare delivery by getting integrated into mainstream healthcare. Promoting Ayurveda as a mainstream therapy approach can be used to bridge the burgeoning gap between demand and supply by primarily focusing on the secondary and tertiary prevention of diseases. In addition, the substantial opportunity in promotive health and restoration of functional health is best addressed by Ayurveda.

India’s ambition to provide universal access and quality healthcare at an affordable cost mandates a paradigm shift in adoption of Ayurveda into the mainstream healthcare system.

Ayurveda’s root cause management approach goes beyond just being a curative system of medicine to being a preventive and promotive healthcare system as well. The industry has gained recognition both in India and developed countries as an alternative system of medicine.

Despite having a strong advantage over modern therapies, the Ayurveda industry’s growth trajectory remains subdued. There is a burning need to prioritize focus on products and services that can jump-start modest growth and triple the industry’s market potential.

This Vision Roadmap study (undertaken by Frost & Sullivan and CII) to identify mega pivots and growth levers that will unlock value in key industry segments and lead to decisive action with solid implementation. It is an outcome of multiple rounds of discussions with key stakeholders in the Indian Ayurveda Industry.

Read more: Vision 2022 Roadmap for the Indian Ayurveda (link)

Past Programs and Events

India & Covid-19's Second Wave -

A Panel Discussion

On 29 April 2021, as part of its continuing Thursday Talks Webinar Series, the ICCC organized a panel discussion on India and Covid-19's Second Wave. Canada's Minister Anita Anand gave introductory remarks, emphasizing the excellent bilateral ties between the two countries. Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India to Canada, set the tone of the discussion in her keynote address by emphasizing that India is capable of procuring its medical emergency needs commercially. The panelists included Ramesh Chotai of Vraj Community Services, Kanchan Kumar of TiE-Toronto, Madhukar Pai and Ananya Banerjee of McGill University, and Sharonya Sekhar of Red Cross Canada. The session gave an opportunity have a fact-based debate to discuss the impact of the resurgence of the pandemic and what needs to be done. 

Watch the recording of the Webinar: India & Covid-19's second wave (link)

Youth Membership

At a Meeting held recently, the Board of Directors decided that from January 2021, Youth Membership would be restricted to University and College students only. All Youth Members will have to provide proof of being a valid student in a Canadian educational institution.  

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce

924 The East Mall Toronto ON M9B 6K1

Tel: (416) 224-0090 Fax: (416) 916-0086

Email: iccc@iccconline.org

Website: www.iccconline.org 

ICCC Weekly Newsletter

01 May 2021

For whom the bells tolls

“Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”

John Donne (1572 – 1631).

The statistics are staggering. Apparently, by some calculations, four Indians are dying every minute, as the macabre death dance caused by the resurgence of the second wave of Covid-19 devastates India.

According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre, the leading online statistical resource for tracking the global spread of Covid-19, despite the resurgence of the virus, India’s death rate as compared to its population, is not as high as some of the more developed countries. The table below list the 10 countries with the highest number of deaths.

Of course, the situation is extremely fluid in India, and the caseload is rising every day to cross half-a-million daily in the coming days, and the number of deaths in India will rise exponentially. According to many experts, May and June will see the situation worsening.

According to a World Health Organization report Global Spending on Health: Weathering the storm, published in December 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, global spending on health was continuing to rise, though at a slower rate in recent years.

In 2018, global spending on health reached US$ 8.3 trillion, or 10% of global GDP, and it was the first time in the past five years that health spending grew slower than GDP. Pertinently, Government health spending per capita grew over the 2000–2018 period, but at a slower rate after the economic crises of 2008–2009.

The share of out-of-pocket spending in total health spending remained above 40% in low and lower middle-income countries. Health spending from external aid reached its peak in 2014 and has since fallen. The share of external aid absorbed by lower middle-income countries has been increasing and in recent years surpassed that of low-income countries. The share of health spending devoted to primary health care varied widely across countries.

Read more:

WHO report (link)

Current Health Expenditure (link)

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre (link)

Indo-Canadian Task Force

Combatting Covid-19's 2nd Wave in India

Taskforce's first Zoom meeting on 1 May

India is currently facing a massive surge in cases of COVID-19. The situation is critical. The sharp increase in cases is putting immense pressure on India’s healthcare system. The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce Taskforce on India’s Covid-19 crisis comprises entrepreneurs, academics, community leaders, and supported by the Canadian and India diplomatic corps. The taskforce has already engaged political decisionmakers both in Canada and India.

Objective:

The taskforce will focus on the following:

• Reach out to 1.6 million Indo-Canadians and seek $100 contribution from each Indo-Canadian (target: $160 million)
• Raising resources to buy medical equipment
• Procuring equipment from global markets
• Sending equipment to India where it is most needed
• Coordinate with the Indian and Canadian governments on the formulating an urgent action plan to overcome the crisis

If you are interested in contributing resources to the taskforce, please contact iccc@iccc.org

An Appeal for India

Vijay Thomas

HELP INDIA CONQUER THE SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations. 

Read more: Appeal for India: Updated List of Organizations

CONNEXT 2021

ICCC's Virtual Trade Mission to India has been rescheduled to the third quarter of 2021. New dates will be announced later.

Download presentation: CONNEXT 2021

Click here for details: CONNEXT 2021

Click here to register: Delegate Registration

Past Programs and Events

India & Covid-19's Second Wave - A Panel Discussion

On 29 April 2021, as part of its continuing Thursday Talks Webinar Series, the ICCC organized a panel discussion on India and Covid-19's Second Wave. Canada's Minister Anita Anand gave introductory remarks, emphasizing the excellent bilateral ties between the two countries. Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India to Canada, set the tone of the discussion in her keynote address by emphasizing that India is capable of procuring its medical emergency needs commercially. The panelists included Ramesh Chotai of Vraj Community Services, Kanchan Kumar of TiE-Toronto, Madhukar Pai and Ananya Banerjee of McGill University, and Sharonya Sekhar of Red Cross Canada. The session gave an opportunity have a fact-based debate to discuss the impact of the resurgence of the pandemic and what needs to be done. 

Watch the recording of the Webinar: India & Covid-19's second wave

In the News

Canada

Covid-19 pandemic slows down FDI in Canada

Foreign direct investment activity slowed considerably in Canada and globally in 2020 amid upheavals caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the stock of both Canadian direct investment abroad and foreign direct investment in Canada continued to increase, the growth in the investment position abroad exceeding that of investment in Canada.

The stock of Canadian direct investment abroad increased by 4.2% to $1,469.3 billion at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the stock of foreign direct investment in Canada was up 2.7% to reach $1,046.3 billion. As a result, the net foreign direct investment position reached $423.0 billion, up $31.6 billion from 2019.

Read more: FDI 2020

India

India Media & Entertainment Sector is worth US$23.7b despite 24% decline in 2020

The Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector is expected to grow by 25% in 2021 and is expected to reach INR 1.73 trillion (US$23.7 billion) states FICCI-EY report 'Playing by new rules' launched today. With its current trajectory, the M&E sector in India is expected to reach INR 2.23 trillion (US$30.6 billion) by 2023 at a CAGR of 17%. In 2020 while television continued to remain the largest segment, digital media has overtaken print, and online gaming has overtaken a disrupted filmed entertainment segment. The Indian Media and Entertainment sector has degrown by 24% to INR 1.38 trillion (US$19 billion) in 2020.

Digital media and online gaming were the only segments that grew in 2020 adding an aggregate of INR 26 billion.  Other segments have degrown by an aggregate of INR 467 billion. While M&E as a sector has usually grown and often outperformed India's nominal GDP, the sector fell three times (3x) India's nominal GDP fall by 8% due to the discretionary nature of the spend. Subscription revenues however proved their mettle by holding up better than advertising revenues.

Television: The TV industry declined 13% from INR787 billion to INR685 billion in 2020.

Digital: In 2020 digital media grew by 6.5% to reach INR235 billion and is expected to grow at 22% CAGR to reach INR425 billion by 2023.

Print: Has degrown 36% in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Print's revenue declines were led by a 41% fall in advertising and a 24% fall in circulation revenues.

Radio: Revenues, which had fallen 7.5% in 2019, fell by over 50% again on account of both ad rate and volume drops.

Read more: Playing by New Rules (link)

Youth Membership

At a Meeting held recently, the Board of Directors decided that from January 2021, Youth Membership would be restricted to University and College students only. All Youth Members will have to provide proof of being a valid student in a Canadian educational institution.  

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce
924 The East Mall Toronto ON M9B 6K1
Tel: (416) 224-0090 Fax: (416) 916-0086
Email: iccc@iccconline.org
Website: www.iccconline.org

An Appeal for India

Updated Additional List of Organizations

VIJAY THOMAS

President

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce

HELP INDIA CONQUER THE SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations.  

Canadian Red Cross Covid-19 Response in India

The images and stories coming out of India are heartbreaking. Patients lined up outside of hospitals waiting for care. Supplies of medical oxygen and beds are dwindling. Health workers and ambulances services are limited. India is currently facing a massive surge in cases of COVID-19. The situation is critical. The sharp increase in cases is putting immense pressure on India’s healthcare system and the Indian Red Cross Society is working hard to help alleviate the burden.

Website: Canada Red Cross

Donate: Canada Red Cross - India Covid-19 Relief

The Canadian Red Cross is working directly with the Indian Red Cross in providing relief.

Donate: Indian Red Cross

Download flyer: Canadian Red Cross

Oxfam COVID-19 Response in India

Oxfam India is procuring oxygen tanks, beds, digital thermometers, and other medical equipment to help government hospitals where supplies are desperately low. We are also preparing to provide food rations and cash support to stranded migrant workers and other marginalized groups, and handwashing stations in public spaces. Your donation to Oxfam today will go directly to this response.

Website: Oxfam Canada 

Donate: Oxfam Canada - India Covid-19 Relief

Plan International Canada Covid-19 Response in India

India has declared a state of emergency, with a deadly second wave of COVID-19 reaching grave proportions. With the country setting global records as one of the most pandemic-plagued nations in the world, millions of lives are now at stake.

Donate now to stop COVID-19 from spreading further and claiming more lives.

Website: Plan International Canada 

Donate: Plan International Canada - India Covid-19 Relief

UNICEF Canada Covid-19 Response in India

Your donation will help UNICEF supply life-saving medical oxygen and testing machines in the most affected districts in India. A second wave of COVID-19 is wreaking havoc throughout India. The loss of life is tragic and catastrophic — with nearly two deaths every minute. Growing exponentially every day, this recent COVID-19 outbreak is recording the highest count of new cases, more than any other country throughout the entire pandemic. The new surge in COVID-19 cases is also seeing more young people including children fall ill. Hospitals and health centres across the country are overwhelmed with hospital beds, essential drugs and oxygen running out. People are desperate for urgent care.

Website: Unicef Canada 

Donate: Unicef Canada India Covid-19 Relief

Save the Children Covid-19 Response in India

Due to the ongoing record surge in COVID-19 cases, millions of children in India are being pushed deeper into poverty and facing many other life-threatening risks.

Website: Save the Children 

Donate: Save the Children India Covid-19 Relief

HelpAge Canada Covid-19 Response in India

As India fights to stay afloat amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, the elderly are struggling to simply survive. Older persons have been the worst hit, as they are the most vulnerable especially those above 80 years of age who are at a high risk of succumbing to COVID-19. Older persons in Indian are in urgent need for awareness raising, food packages, hygiene kits, personal health support, water, sanitation, hygiene and vaccine support. We need to help India fight this pandemic.

Website: HelpAge Canada 

Donate: HelpAge Canada India Covid-19 Relief

Vraj Community Services

Vraj Community Services in collaboration with South Asian Health Network and other affiliates have started a drive to send to India directly to the severely affected Hospitals the ‘Oxygen Generators with 8 Litres or More capacity’. The drive is underway in full swing. The intent is to have at least 500 Heavy Duty Generators delivered with a minimum of delay. The manufacturers of the equipment have already been contacted.

The cost of each generator is approx CDN $320.00. We have contacted a credible NGO in India who will coordinate our efforts to ensure the even distribution to the affected Hospitals.

We are seeking the help of donors for contributing to this humanitarian cause. The donors will receive the Canadian Charitable Donation receipt with full transparency and the confirmation of the delivery.

Payment Method for Canada - Vraj Community Services

Please click here: Vraj Donations 

E-transfer to Vraj Community

Charitable tax receipts will be provided

International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) Covid-19 Response in India

India is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. On April 24th, 2021 almost 350,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported. India has the highest daily infection rate of any country. Over 2,600 people in India are losing their lives to the virus each day, with the nation on track to surpass over 200,000 COVID-19 linked deaths by April 30th.

IDRF is helping build capacity of hospitals and medical centres that are treating COVID-19 patients in states like Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. As part of the initial response: 11 hospitals have been identified and will be supplied with essential bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilation systems. Beds and other medical equipment will be provided to these hospitals. Medication and food packages will be provided to hospitals, and families of COVID-19 patients across India. These essential packages are helping patients and their families sustain their basic needs as they fight this devastating virus.

Website: IDRF 

Donate (Zakat eligible): IDRF India Covid-19 Relief

Khalsa Aid Oxygen Concentrator Appeal

Khalsa Aid is appealing for donations of Oxygen Concentrator machines for India

Donate in Canada: Khalsa Aid / Email

Currently unable to provide tax receipts in Canada

World Vision Covid-19 Response in India

COVID-19 cases are surging across India, putting girls and boys, and their families, at risk. Official reports show the daily infection rate is over 360,000, and daily deaths are over 3,000. Hospitals are overwhelmed and life-saving supplies such as oxygen are in short supply.

Your contribution to World Vision’s COVID-19 emergency response in India will help:

• Strengthen and equip health care systems with items such as oxygen concentrators, beds and tents;
• Create awareness around the importance of the vaccine, and;
• Provide psychosocial support to vulnerable girls, boys, and their families, and more.

Website: World Vision

Donate: World Vision India Covid-19 Relief

Sanatan Mandir Community Centre

Covid-19 Response in India

As India battles the Covid-19 Pandemic, Indian peoples are facing unforeseen challenges. In India, Covid-19 has strained healthcare systems and resources for those in need. The Oxygen supply has limited to the lowest point and lives are lost every minute. Sanatan Mandir has decided to send a minimum 100 Oxygen Concentrators. Please donate generously, Contact any of the committee members. The donors will receive the Sanatan Mandir donation receipt. Donation must be paid online, or by cheque or e Transfer within 24 hours of your commitment.

Pankaj Shah - (647) 274-1107

Mahesh Chokshi - (416) 417-9119

Haresh Mehta-(416) 846 8002

Website: SMCC 

Donate: SMCC India Covid-19 Relief

Ekal Canada Covid-19 Response in India

Ekal has been successful in keeping 100,000 Ekal villages with population of 100 million people safe until recently.  We are sorry to share that epidemic has now begun to infiltrate Ekal villages. Most of Ekal villages are very remote, and generally do not have easy access to medical facilities.  A large team of Ekal workers is trying hard to prevent and control epidemic in these villages.   Ekal needs funds for prevention and control of epidemic in these villages. We need your support. Funds requirement for the above is huge. Ekal Canada has already committed to send $100,000 within days. Donations can be made online by eTransfer at info@ekal.ca, or at Ekal website www.ekal.ca. ; Tax receipt will be issued for these donations.  Will be pleased to answer any questions.

Website: Ekal Canada 

Donate: Ekal Canada India Covid-19 Relief

Continued here

An Appeal for India

Updated Additional List of Organizations

VIJAY THOMAS

President

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce

HELP INDIA CONQUER THE SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19

As a Canadian organization, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce adheres both in letter and in spirit to Canadian laws and values, and support and respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the Canadian society. In the spirit of non-partisanship and in accordance to Canadian values of multiculturalism, the ICCC provides a list of organizations that are at present working on raising resources for India to fight the resurgence of Covid-19.

The ICCC encourages its Members and stakeholders to contribute directly to any of these organisations. 

Islamic Relief Canada Covid-19 Response in India

Help us deliver Oxygen & Covid-19 Vaccines to India. Every second in India, 4 new cases of Covid-19 are recorded with 2 new deaths per minute. Cases are surging by hundreds of thousands per day, hitting record peaks with graveyards completely overwhelmed. People are left fighting for their lives amidst a severe shortage of vaccines and medical care as hospitals and critical care facilities are starved of oxygen supplies. In support of UNICEF, Islamic Relief Canada is helping deliver Covid-19 vaccines to the world’s most poorest countries. We urge you to help us respond to this crisis in India and end the pandemic everywhere, quickly and equitably, one vaccine at a time. Today, you can pay it forward and donate oxygen and vaccines to help save a life in India.Help provide urgent relief today. Every life deserves a chance.

Website: Islamic Relief Canada 

Donate: Islamic Relief Canada India Covid-19 Relief

Canadian Council of Indian Muslims

Urgent Appeal

Help India Breathe

Stand with those facing Covid-19 in India.

Funds solicited for O2 Concentrators and Cylinders PPEs and Medicines.

CCIM is working with organizations who have volunteers on the ground providing various kind of support including but not limited to arranging oxygen supply, make-shift beds and providing medicine.

Send your contributions to relief4india@ccmorg.com 

SEWA Canada International

Covid-19 Response in India

The second wave of COVID-19 has hit India hard. The number of cases have risen exponentially within a week. With very high density of population, the healthcare system is struggling to keep up. With more than 2,200 deaths just yesterday (23rd April) and more than 2 million active cases, this second wave requires an immediate response. Sewa and its organizations worldwide were one of the first to swing into action on the ground.

100% of your donation is transferred to to the effort on the ground. All donations are tax deductible in Canada. Tax receipts will be issued automatically by GoFundMe via PayPal Giving Fund.

Website: Sewa Canada

Donate: Sewa International Canada

Freedom from Poverty Foundation

Covid-19 Response in India

We currently have 92 hospitalized patients, in our charity hospital in India, under oxygen therapy and IV medical treatment for severe COVID-19 infections. We need YOUR help to purchase oxygen cylinders and IV medications to continue to treat these patients. If you would like to help us help these Covid-19 patients, please visit our website’s donation page and make a tax-deductible donation.

Website: FFPF

Overseas Volunteers of Better India

Donate: OVBI 

Currently unable to provide tax receipts in Canada.

Or donate to Paytm campaign in India

Paytm Foundation is raising ₹10 crore to donate Oxygen Concentrators across India. Paytm will match the contributions received through this initiative.

Donate directly here: Paytm