PRESIDENT'S VIEW
RIPUDAMAN SINGH DHILLON
As we ring in the holiday season and bring 2021 to an end, I was keen to share my views with our members and stakeholders. Mainly I want to share our achievements of the last few months, and share plans for 2022, which hopefully will bring in a new phase of activities at our institution.
In November 2021, when it seemed that we had put the pandemic behind us, we organized five in-person events that were unprecedented in scale and scope. Participation in these events were by invitation, and the purpose was to invite potential members, sponsors so that they could gauge the reach of the Chamber in the Canadian mainstream.
See the short video clips of the five events.
We are hopeful that 2022 will be different. It appears that our hope is based on a majority sentiment of Canadian businesses expressed in a survey conducted by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The key findings of the survey, released on 8 December 2021 are:
- 84% of businesses are planning to maintain investments or invest more in the next 12 months
- 74% of businesses expect Canadian economic conditions will improve or remain the same
- 83% of businesses expect their sales will increase or remain the same, with accommodations and food services businesses the most optimistic.
- 55% of businesses are experiencing difficulties hiring qualified workers.
See the BDC survey here.
In retrospect, 2021 turned out to be no different than 2020 as the world grappled with the scourge of Covid-19. The variants of the virus continued to surprise the world, even as the global medical fraternity and the pharmaceutical industry strenuously tried to control its spread. The sudden resurgence and the quick spread of the Omicron variant will unfortunately ensure that 2022 may well turn out to be no different than 2021 and 2020.
The lessons that we have learnt over the last nearly 20 months are straightforward – we have to forget that we will be putting the coronavirus behind us soon. It is likely to be with us for a prolonged period. But that shouldn’t mean that we continue with the economically crippling lockdown. In most parts of the world, the lockdown has proved to be economically devastating, especially for small businesses.
Vaccination is the only answer and there is an urgent need to ensure that vaccination is, if necessary, enforced. It is only when the entire population is vaccinated that we will be able to bring normalcy to the world economy.
In this context, the opposition to vaccination that is proliferating in some parts of the world and in some sections of the Canadian population are coming in the way of tackling the spread of the virus. While respecting the individual’s right to choose to be vaccinated, it needs to be emphasized that an individual’s right cannot be above the rights of the society and majority of the population that has clearly taken to vaccination.
India @ 75 - Quiz for Youth
India is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate the 75 Years of India’s independence. To commemorate the occasion of India @75, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, is organising “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” online Quiz at portal: www.akamquiz.in for the overseas Indian/Foreign youth to awaken the curiosity of the new generation to know more about India so that they develop an all-round understanding of India. Registration to participate in the Quiz has commenced on 1 December 2021 and will end on 31 January 2022.
Details
India Fights Covid-19
Impact of Covid-19 on Canadian families
The pandemic presented a long list of threats to the mental and physical well-being of children, parents and educators across the nation. To help end the pandemic and return to normalcy, policy makers had to make difficult choices, such as closing schools. With our guest, Dr. Kelley Zwicker, a pediatrician at CHEO, we discussed the potential short- and long-term effects of the school closures on children and their parents.
Podcast
AP Export Action Plan
The Andhra Pradesh Trade Promotion Corporation, Department of Industries, Commerce & Export Promotion, Government of Andhra Pradesh recently unveiled the Andhra Pradesh State Export Action Plan 2021.
The Action Plan features innovative ideas to serve as handy trade guide by incorporating the requisite details for traders as well as to give guidance and direction to the trade and exports community so as to help the State achieve the vision of doubling exports from the State by 2030, and to establish Andhra Pradesh, In line with initiatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, as an economic hub on the East Coast.
Andhra Pradesh State Government is making efforts to show-case to the world the strength and product availability from the State. It contains individual district plans to bring a collaborative competition among the stakeholders and promoting district as export hub.
Download
TAKE OFF
ICCC's Startup Initiative
9:30 am Sunday 19 December 2021
The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) in collaboration with BRTSIF is organizing a virtual meeting between Indian startups and Canadian investors and service providers.
This virtual event will be of 90 min duration. 15-20 minutes for initial formalities and then 70 minutes for 7 startups to make their presentations.
The startups need help in these areas:
- Banking and supply of capital
- Mentorship
- Immigration (business visas)
- Help to set up business
- General business help
If you are interested in participating in this program, please write to Sanjay Kulkarni at iccc@iccconline.org
BRTSIF is a foundation set up by Bombay Stock Exchange Institute Ltd. and BIL Ryerson Futures Pvt. Ltd. to promote startups and support the government of India’s vision for entrepreneurship development and innovation culture.
Recovery Activation Program
Small businesses that are new to the Recovery Activation Program (RAP) can still complete their Digital Needs Assessment (DNA) on www.rap.bot.com for free by enrolling in our upcoming segments for the RAP Digital Certificate Program.
After completing at least one program stream, candidates can submit their applications for grant funding by answering three questions and providing eligibility information. If applicants have previously completed a RAP stream, they can proceed directly to the application process and submit their details. The answers submitted by the prospective grantees will be evaluated by a panel of experts from TRBOT. The application window will close on January 10, 2022.
To learn more about the Lenovo Digital Transformation Grant, please visit please visit https://bot.hostedincanadasurveys.ca/815866?lang=en
ICCC's Partner in Success
Range Enterprise comes on board as ICCC's Affinity Partner
Range Enterprise, one of Canada’s fastest growing corporate gifting companies, has become ICCC’s Affinity Partner. Check out here the range of corporate gift it offers, and avail 10 percent discount on rack rates.
Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce
924 The East Mall Toronto ON M9B 6K1
T: (416) 224-0090
E: iccc@iccconline.org
W: www.iccconline.org
