The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) organised a seminar on Global Market Trends – Building capacities and growing our markets at home and abroad. Athar Shah of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) made a presentation with special focus on Ontario’s Agri Food sector and an overview on emerging export markets.

The Trade and Commerce Committee of the ICCC organised the program that saw the participation of a large number of members keen to learn the various ways in which they could explore the global market. For the first time ever, the program was narrow-casted through a live stream on social media. In addition, in an unprecedented move, three of the committee members of the Trade and Commerce Committee Keyur Patel, Kashyap Patel and Umesh Patel became life members of the Chamber.

Mr. Sanjay Brahmbhatt, the chair of the committee, welcomed the participants and introduced the speaker of the evening. Mr. Kanwar Dhanjal, President, ICCC, delineated the measures of trade promotion undertaken by the ICCC in recent months, as well as the plans for the next few months.

Mr. Ajay Tandon, VP, Program and Events, was the master of ceremonies for the evening’s program which also saw participation by Mr. Nareshkumar Chavda, ICCC’s Corporate Secretary and VP Membership and Government Relations; Mr. Pramod Goyal, ICCC’s VP Finance and Sponsorship; Mr. Pradyuman Jhala, Director, Small and Medium Enterprises. Mr. Arun Srivastava, the Immediate Past President of the ICCC was also present.

In his presentation, Mr. Shah provided detailed information about Ontario’s agriculture, food and beverages processing, agro-food export, environmental and clean technology industries. Mr. Shah is responsible for the domestic management of Ontario Bakery, Milling, Ingredients, Edible Oils and Cereal sectors while additionally supporting investment attraction and export development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as a Senior Advisor.

Some of the key highlights of the presentation were:

• The agri-food sector is a major player in Ontario's economy. It currently generates $34 billion a year in gross domestic product (GDP) and sustains 740,000 jobs - about one in every nine jobs across the province. Expanding the export growth of the province's agri-food businesses is part of the government's plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs.

• Ontario Exported $14.9 Billion in Agri-Food Products in 2017 ($14.8 in 2016) up 0.8 Billion
  
  
• Ontario’s top five exports from the sector are:

Grain Products – 18.23% $3,417,535,359 (73% Baked Goods, 10% Mixes & Dough, 9% Cereal and 8% Other)

Meat & Protein – 8.41% $1,576,094,292 (25% Beef (Fresh/Chilled), 20% Pork (Fresh/Chilled), 20% Pet Food)

Fresh & Processed Vegetables – 7.55% $1,415,567,204 (25% Fresh Tomatoes, 24% Other Vegetables, 17% Fresh Cucumbers)

Oilseeds – 5.73% $1,073,426,310 (98% Soybean)

Confectionary – 4.90% $919,076,685

• Ontario is home to Canada’s greatest concentration of environmental and clean technology companies. According to the 2014 Canadian Clean Technology Industry Report, 35% of clean tech companies in Canada are located in Ontario — 10% more than in any other Canadian province.
  
  
• Ontario's environmental sector (which includes clean tech) is worth an estimated $8 billion in annual revenues and $1 billion in export earnings. Canada's national clean technology industry revenue is $11.3 billion and projected to grow to $26 billion by 2018.

Mr. Shah also spoke of the different funding options available to entrepreneurs keen to explore these sectors, and also explained in details the challenges that such endeavours are likely to face in the Middle East and North American market, for which he has the requisite expertise.

A lengthy Q&A followed Mr. Shah’s presentation where different aspects of the emerging scenarios in these sectors were discussed.