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ICCC’s six-city India Mission 2013
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Report and photographs on Amritsar programs
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| Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC)’s India Mission 2013 came to a successful conclusion in Amritsar January 16. The mission had left Toronto for India on January 03. During the two-week program, the Mission visited Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Delhi, Jalandhar and Amritsar. Led by ICCC’s President Naval Bajaj, the India Mission 2013 comprised over a 100 small businesses from Canada and also included a team from the Cities of Brampton and Markham led by their respective mayors – Her Worship Susan Fennell (Brampton) and His Worship Frank Scarpitti (Markham). |
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Participation in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Kochi and Vibrant Gujarat in Gandhinagar were the highlights of the Mission. After a whirlwind tour of six cities, the mission finally reached Punjab on January 15. ICCC’s India Mission 2013 received unprecedented backing from Canada’s federal government when Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, went participated in the PBD-India in Kochi and Vibrant Gujarat in Gandhinagar to support the trade mission. Hon. Dr. Asha Seth, Senator, Hon. Joe Daniel, Member of Parliament, participated in the global convention of the Indian Diaspora in Kochi and Hon. Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament and Chair of Canada-India Parliamentary Association participated in the global business summit in Gandhinagar.
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| Traditional welcome in Amritsar |
Mayor of Amritsar Bakshi Ram Arora and the councillors of Amritsar’s municipal corporation received the delegates and accompanied them to the hotel where the Mayor of Brampton Her Worship Susan Fennell was welcomed in a traditional way by Bhangra dancers.
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ICCC President Naval Bajaj with Mayor of Brampton Her Worship Susan Fennell, Mayor of Amritsar Bakshi Ram Vora and the Commissioner of Amritsar at an interactive meeting organized by the Amritsar Mayor for the India Mission 2013 delegation
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Subsequently, a meeting was organized with the businesses of Amritsar and thereafter a media conference was also held. The ICCC signed a MoU with the Punjab Haryana Delhi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI) and also met members of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). During these meetings, Naval Bajaj, President, ICCC, discussed business and trade matters common to Canada and India and specifically focused on the commonalities between Brampton and Punjab such as food security, alternative energy, education (including education in agriculture), the role of small and medium enterprises. Local entrepreneurs explained the intricacies of the local industries (sports, woolen garments) to the delegates. The delegates also met with Punjab's Minister for NRI Affairs Hon. Bikram Majthia and other ministers anddignitaries from the Punjab government.
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Meetings with Punjab's NRI Affairs Minister
Hon. Bikram Majthia, and other Ministers
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Signing MoU with PHDCCI
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Visit to the Golden Temple
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...and the Durgyaina temple
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In the evening, the delegation visited the world famous Golden Temple where the Mayor of Brampton was honoured in a ceremony. The delegation then visited the Durgyaina temple and was similarly honoured at the temple. In the evening the delegation visited the India-Pakistan border at Wagaha to witness the Wagaha-Attari border closing ceremony.
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Mayor Susan Fennell & Naval Bajaj at
Wagaha border
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India-Pakistan closing of the border ceremony
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| Mayor of Amritsar Bakshi Ram Arora hosted a dinner for the delegation that was also attended by the local small business owners, the police commissioner, officials from the municipal corporation and the police commissioner. |
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ICCC's Naval Bajaj & Kanwar Dhanjal at a meeting with Confederation of Indian Industries
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Interactive session with local businesses in Amritsar
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