ICCC Weekly Newsletter

01 February 2021

Announcement

The ICCC Newsletter will now be sent to members and stakeholders every week. The weekly newsletter will continue with the features that formed a part of the monthly newsletter and will include additional features such as welcoming new members. We invite newsletter recipients to suggest subjects that they would like included in the newsletter. You may send your suggestions to iccc@iccconline.org

In the News

Canada

New Travel Restrictions

Quarantine rules to discourage international travel

Canada’s main airlines have agreed to cancel service to the Caribbean and Mexico and the federal government is introducing new mandatory quarantine rules as it tries to discourage international travel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced 29 January that Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat have agreed to suspend service to some sun destinations starting Sunday 31 January until 30 April, and will be making arrangements with their customers who are in these regions now to organize flights home.

Starting at 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 3, all international passenger, private and charter flights, including from the U.S., will land at the Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal airports. Cargo-only flights will remain exempt.

The prime minister said the government will soon be introducing mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada “as soon as possible in the coming weeks.” That’s on top of the pre-boarding test already required.

Read more: Prime Minister's Announcement

Read more: CBC news report

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program

Financial support to businesses hardest hit by Covid-19

Hon. Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion & International Trade

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced the launch of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program, or HASCAP on 26 January 2021. As first outlined in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, HASCAP will provide financial support to businesses that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

Through HASCAP, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will work with participating Canadian financial institutions to offer government-guaranteed, low-interest loans of up to $1 million. Hard-hit businesses, like a chain of hotels or restaurants with multiple locations under one related entity, could be eligible for up to $6.25 million. HASCAP will help businesses with their day-to-day operating costs during the COVID-19 crisis and enable them to invest in their longer-term prosperity.

HASCAP is available to businesses across the country, in all sectors, that have been hit hard by the pandemic. This includes restaurants, businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and those that rely on in-person service.

Read more: Minister Ng announces launch of HASCAP

Read more: Eligibility requirements

India

India's 2021-2022 Budget

Six pillars of the budget

India's Finance Minister Hon. Nirmala Sitharaman before presenting the Budget in the Indian Parliament

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday presented the Union Budget 2021 with focus on six pillars to energise the economy which has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The budget reflects the government’s confidence in being able to combat the pandemic effectively and is focused on growth.

Presenting the first ever digital Union Budget, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India’s fight against COVID-19 continues into 2021 and that this moment in history, when the political, economic, and strategic relations in the post-COVID world are changing, is the dawn of a new era – one in which India is well-poised to truly be the land of promise and hope.

Read more: Key highlights of the budget

Read more: HT news report

India Telecom 2021

Exclusive International Business Expo

India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Communications has set up Telecom Equipment & Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) for promotion of exports of Telecom Equipment and Services from India.

TEPC is going to organize ‘India Telecom 2021’ - an Exclusive International Business Expo virtually on 3 & 4 March 2021. The main objective of the event is to provide opportunities to Indian telecom exporters to meet qualified overseas buyers. TEPC has created this platform to bring potential buyers from across the globe and quality telecom equipment manufacturers and ICT services solution providers from India under one roof to interact and finalize business deals.

The event will have a Conference session from 09:30 to 13:00 hours and Expo & the B2B sessions will continue the whole day for the two days – 3 & 4 March 2021.

This is an open invitation to ICT stakeholders to participate in India Telecom 2021 (Virtual Edition) and be partners of Indian exporters of telecom products & services. The template for sending the details is attached for reference.

Download specs: India Telecom 2021

Re-Design Business @Rajasthan

Virtual Global Business and Investment Summit

Government of Rajasthan is organizing a Virtual Global Business and Investment Summit, “Re-Design Business @Rajasthan” on the revised dates in the third week of February 2021. The Summit is being held in collaboration with high profiled Non-Resident Rajasthanis (NRRs) who are keen to promote their homeland as an Investment Destination. Brochure of the Summit is attached.  

Rajasthan has achieved remarkable success across various economic verticals. “Re-Design Business @Rajasthan” is going to be an all-inclusive investor meet which will comprise of industry focused sectoral sessions to brainstorm and showcase the focus areas and sectors for business opportunities, joint ventures and investments. 

The Government of Rajasthan is presently finalizing the agenda and other details of the Summit.  However, before the main event, the State Government representatives such as Principal Secretary Industries, Commissioner, Rajasthan Foundation, Commissioner BIP and relevant industry heads and Secretaries would like to meet individually with stakeholders/investors to discuss their investment related queries.

All those interested in participating in this meeting may use the information in the brochure.

Download information: Rajasthan

Welcome to new members

The ICCC Board of Directors approved the following new members in January 2021

Life

Jayesh Menon

Corporate

Babu Sampath

Sachin Kundra

Regular

Abhishikta Tripathi

Amit Bhasin

Amit Rastogi

Anand Karat

Avinash S. Tukrel

Dhruv Ghosh

Inder Singh

Olivia Fernandes

Pawan Chankotra

Piero Pucci

Purna Kandel

Suja Chandy

Vishal Kapoor

Vivek Chandrasekharan

Programs and Events

Thursday Talks Webinar Series

Moderated by Vijay Thomas, President, ICCC

Panelists to be announced on 2 Feb 2021

Register on Zoom (first 100 registrants): Zoom

Watch livestream on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ICCCONLINE

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce

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Tel: (416) 224-0090 Fax: (416) 916-0086

Email: iccc@iccconline.org

Website: www.iccconline.org