Toronto: Canada is among the 18 countries that the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has identified to develop stronger trade relations with in the near future. Informing an audience comprising leading lights of Toronto’s Indo-Canadian business community about this crucial development, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Secretary General of FICCI said that the apex body of commerce and trade in India is keen to take the cooperation between Canada and India to another level.

Dr. Kumar was speaking at the business reception organised by Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC) in downtown Toronto late last month.

Naval Bajaj, President, ICCC, during his brief address emphasized the need for closer cooperation between organizations such as the ICCC and FICCI. “As the Canada-India file gains prominence it is becoming increasingly important for organisations in both the countries to work together to enhance the pace of economic cooperation,” he said.

He added that the ICCC and FICCI have worked together on several projects in the past. Earlier this year, during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur, ICCC collaborated with FICCI and the Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation on a symposium that examined the growing significance of the small and medium enterprises in the Canada – India economic relations.

Naval said the Chamber would be seeking FICCI’s assistance during the forthcoming India Mission 2013 when ICCC will lead a delegation of small businesses to five Indian cities. Dr. Kumar instantly agreed to this proposal and said FICCI would be delighted to organize match-making meetings for the Canadian delegation with Indian companies.

Vikram Khurana, Director, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APFC) introduced Dr. Kumar. Dr. Kumar joined FICCI as Director General in October 2010 and subsequently as Secretary General in May 2011. Prior to FICCI, he was Director and Chief Executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), one of India’s leading independent economic policy think tanks.

His latest book, Many Futures of India, published in April 2011 is a compilation of his columns in some of India’s newspapers. He is a leading columnist in business dailies and his views on matters relating to the economy are widely sought.