BBOT India-Canada Business Dinner Recap

On Thursday November 10th the Burnaby Board of Trade’s Indo-Canadian Working Group held its inaugural India-Canada Business Dinner at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall in Burnaby.

The evening featured presentations by Sav Dhaliwal, Burnaby City Councillor, and Karan Suri, Manager of India and Europe International Markets, from the Ministry of International Trade. The topics of both presentations revolved around the importance and current climate of India and Canada’s business relationship. More specifically, Karan Suri provided an informative update on the efforts underway to build closer economic ties between BC and India, building on the already strong cultural connections. Suri explained the numerous opportunities that exist for businesses looking to export goods and services to India and take advantage of the massive middle class that is emerging there. Suri also highlighted the news that the BC provincial government was the first ever foreign government to issue an Indian Rupee denominated bond, or a “Masala Bond”, in September, demonstrating both BC’s optimism towards the India economy and its strong reputation of its triple-AAA credit rating. These insightful presentations were followed by a lively performance by vocalist Raj Toora and a delectable Indian buffet dinner.

As mentioned, the event was an initiative of the BBOT’s Indo-Canadian Working Group, which is a sub-group of the board’s Pacific Gateway Committee– a committee which, among other things, identifies priority issues relating to trade, investment, education, and cultural exchanges between the Burnaby Board of Trade, the business community and the Asia Pacific region. The Indo-Canadian Business Working Group facilitates connections between the board and Indo-Canadian business owners and professionals in Burnaby and beyond in an effort to create a more dynamic and harmonized business community. The group will continue to plan events, programs and policy to support the overall mandate of the Pacific Gateway Committee and the Burnaby Board of Trade.

See pictures from the event here.