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On the occasion of the 69th Indian Independence Day, Sanjay Makkar, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), pledged to forge more meaningful economic relations between Canada and India. In a statement released in Toronto, Mr. Makkar said that as the head of the only bilateral chamber of commerce, he was committed to lead the relations in a new direction and follow the lead given by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his April 2015 visit to Canada. “We are focused on creating opportunities for enhancing investments in India to support the Indian Prime Minister’s Make in India project. Similarly, we want to ensure that the high level of investment by India’s private sector in Canada continues and broadens to different sectors.”
He added, ICCC's new slogan for bilateral relations is: Better. Stronger. Wider.
The ICCC President and the members of the board participated in a series of programs and events related to the celebrations of the Indian Independence Day in Ottawa and Toronto. Mr. Makkar participated in the reception that India’s High Commissioner to Canada His Excellency Vishnu Prakash hosted in Ottawa on 13 August. The reception was attended by Canadian political leaders, government officials, businessmen, academicians, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as, prominent Indo-Canadians and representatives of various Indian community associations. The over 300 guests were treated to a colourful cultural programme and sumptuous Indian cuisine. Earlier, to mark the occasion, a special flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Ottawa city hall. The Mayor of Ottawa Hon'ble Jim Watson participated in this program. Members of the community and friends of India turned out in numbers to honour the national flag. Subsequently, members of the ICCC board also participated in Indian Independence Day celebrations organized by the Consul General of India in Toronto Akhilesh Mishra. The celebration was held at the prestigious Toronto Reference Library, and was attended by the veritable who’s who of the Canadian mainstream and the Indian community. Toronto’s Mayor His Worship John Tory was a guest of honour at the program, and he congratulated the Indian community on the occasion of the 69th Indian Independence Day, and lauded the contributions of the Indian community to the development of Toronto.
Mr. Makkar and his colleagues on the board also participated in the India Day Parade on 16 August 2015 at the Yonge and Dundas Square organized by Panorama India. Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister for National Defense and Multiculturalism, and Hon. Chris Alexander, Minister for Citizenship and Immigration participated in the program that saw hundreds of Indo-Canadian community members join in with great enthusiasm. Hon. Dr. Asha Seth, Senator, was also present along with several other dignitaries. The program also attracted film stars such as Preity Zinta and music composers such as Shankar Mahadevan. The highlight of the program was the parade around the YDS led by Consul General Akhilesh Mishra and Minister Kenney.
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