In June 2013 Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce acquired a new building that will become its headquarters. The 6,000 square feet building a part of a complex in Toronto’s west end is at 924 East Mall and has three levels.

Since its inception 36 years ago, ICCC has performed its core twin roles of fostering bilateral relations between Canada and India, and creating opportunities for the Indian Diaspora. It has emerged as the Indian Diaspora’s largest business organization. 

As the Canada-India trade relations strengthen, and as the Indian Diaspora in Canada grows, ICCC, which has been the traditional pivot in mobilizing action in both these spheres, needs to refocus and expand upon its core objectives.

From being merely a catalyst, it has to become a harbinger of change, promoting excellence in all spheres of commerce, whether it is trade in merchandise or in sunrise services sectors such as clean tech or in education.

An independent building to serve as ICCC’s headquarters has been a long-standing demand of the membership. In meeting this demand, ICCC has paved the way to sustain and maintain its future growth.

The new building will serve as a centre for excellence for all the multifarious activities that ICCC performs in meeting its objectives. In particular, the building will be utilized to encourage entrepreneurialism in the Indo-Canadian community. In addition, it will act as an impetus to ICCC to expand and do more.

Of the three levels of the new building, ICCC will utilize the ground level to hold nearly all of its regular events. The basement can comfortably accommodate 200 guests and the building has large space for free parking. This will encourage member participation in ICCC’s events and will also result in cost savings as ICCC won’t have to incur venue rental costs for its events.

ICCC also proposes to launch sector and industry specific initiatives from the new building. These initiatives will be customized to meet the emerging needs on the Canada-India file and the growing number of entrepreneurs and professionals from the Indian Diaspora.  

The four issues that the 2012-13 board had been tasked with were:

• Tangible progress on the Canada-India file
• Addressing the issue of Governance
• Enhancing ICCC’s council operations
• Optimal utilization of the building fund

On all four issues, the 2012-13 board has had demonstrable and substantive achievements. When Naval Bajaj, ICCC’s 25^th President, announced the acquisition of the new building at the annual general meeting, it was greeted with resounding and sustained applause by the members.