Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India have in their own inimitable ways reinvigorated the relations between Canada and India. Both have adopted a realistic, calibrated approach eschewing gung-ho proclamations. Their approach also underlines the new and emerging realities of the global trade that appears to be moving away from all-encompassing trade treaties.  

As both Canada and India continue to take pragmatic measures to boost mutual cooperation, trade ties in particular have come a long way. In 2015, Canadian-Indian the bilateral trade crossed over $8billion. 

There is a long road ahead for more fulfilling cooperation between Canada and India. As the only Canadian bilateral chamber promoting better ties between the two nations, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce has constantly advocated for a more pronounced trade interaction between the two nations. Recently, the Canadian High Commission lauded the ICCC’s role in fostering bilateral commercial ties and prompting trade. companies 

are doing business and collaborating in various sectors including agriculture and food security, infrastructure and smart cities, and clean technology, information technology, and communication and aerospace, among several others.

Satya has lived in Canada for about 45 years. During his stay, he served as the Director General of the Tax Policy Department of Federal Finance until 1987, where he was fully responsible for the Tax Policy development and implementation. During his tenure, he developed the whole GST system in Canada and was called as the ‘Father of GST’.

Satya joined Ernst and Young as a Senior Partner and provided consulting services on GST to the Canadian government. In addition, he was consulted by several governments in Europe and Asia, and mainstream business houses across North America. He led a special task force under CIDA to evaluate the whole Income Tax and Indirect Tax system in India. The recommendation of this task force resulted in the major overhaul and simplification of the Indian Tax System.

In recognition of his spectacular contribution to the fabric of the Canadian society, and especially his contribution to the field of taxation, the ICCC honoured him with its Lifetime / Outstanding Achievement Award in 1995. In 2002, following his retirement, he became actively involved with taxation reform in India. At the special request of the then Indian Finance Minister, Dr. Man Mohan Singh, he moved to India to help the Indian Government to develop a policy framework for the GST in India.

He continued to provide his services to the Government to date in identifying the tax policy issues between the Central and State Governments, and to formulate a functional system. In that process he has been heavily involved in negotiations with various State Governments and the Central Government. At present, he is acknowledged as the most knowledgeable person on all matters GST.