Volume 18 Issue #02 February 2025 | |
Strength in Unity: Building a Resilient Canada | |
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Hello friends,
As we continue to dig out from what the media has aptly dubbed a snowmageddon, I’ve been reflecting on how challenges often reveal both our frustrations and our strengths. The recent storms have sparked debates about city services and their effectiveness—a natural aspect of democracy, where every voice has a right to be heard. But amid these challenges, I’ve witnessed something far more inspiring.
From my window, I see children laughing in the snow, engaged in playful battles of snowballs, joined by older family members sharing in the joy. It’s a reminder that adversity can also bring warmth, connection, and an opportunity to rediscover resilience. Just as nature renews itself with every season—moving from winter’s stark beauty to the promise of spring—so too can our relationships, policies, and communities transform for the better.
We stand at the threshold of significant political shifts, both at home and south of the border. These changes are stirring uncomfortable but necessary conversations about Canada-US relations. Some voices in this dialogue are thoughtful and measured; others are loud and divisive. Now, more than ever, we must foster a climate of diplomacy—one rooted in mutual respect and long-term collaboration. By avoiding unnecessary escalations and addressing our challenges with clarity and calm, we can build a future that serves the people of both nations.
Our shared goals—combating extremism, curbing drug and human trafficking, and strengthening internal and international security—should unite us. At the same time, we must reinforce our own foundation: upholding rule-based, merit-driven immigration policies, strengthening our legal frameworks against crime, and fostering social awareness that condemns division and extremism. Whenever we stray from these core values, our society suffers—not just within our borders, but in our standing on the global stage.
This isn’t just my opinion—it’s a sentiment shared by countless Canadians. Unfortunately, it seems that voices advocating introspection and responsibility are increasingly being silenced, while more extreme narratives gain undeserved space.(Read more)
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Press Release
CIF and BC-IBN Sign MoU to Promote Business Ties with India
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Toronto, February 26, 2025: Canada India Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BC - India Business Network (BC-IBN) with the objective of promoting cooperation and collaboration between the two organizations to strengthen economic, business, and strategic relationships between Canada and India, with a specific focus on enhancing business and cultural relations.
CIF and BC-IBN, both organizations dedicated to building and promoting Canada-India bilateral relationship, will work together for business development by promoting trade missions, industry forums and cultural exchanges. A key focus area will be collaboration on policy advocacy initiatives aimed at fostering a favorable business environment for Canada-India bilateral trade and investment.
Further, both organizations will promote initiatives like educational exchanges, skills development programs, and host events across Canada to build national consensus and narrative on important areas for Canada-India bilateral.
Speaking on the new collaboration, Ritesh Malik, Chair, CIF, said: “We are very happy to have entered into this agreement with BC-IBN. There is tremendous synergy between us. We are both focused on getting the best out of the great potential inherent in the Canada India relationship. Now we have a truly dedicated group of people as partners with the same objectives in the beautiful province of British Columbia.”
“The joining of hands between Canada India Foundation and BC-India Business Network shows the singleness of our purpose in enhancing Trade and Culture between our two countries which together have a rich heritage, culture and wealth of resources and knowledge This also includes peace, prosperity and unity between the two countries”, Dr. Vivek Savkur, Founder & President Emeritus
“We are very pleased this MoU has been signed and look forward to enhancing Canada-India relations through this important partnership”, Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan, President BC-IBN.
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Yoga for Heart: Wear Red Canada Event | |
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Canada India Foundation (CIF), in partnership with the University Health Network (UHN), celebrated the Wear Red Canada campaign that focuses on women’s heart health on February 24, 2025, at the Rumsey Cardiac Centre. Included in the program was a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga session focusing on heart health. The session was led by Yoga Guru Acharya Prem Narayan.
Speaking at the event, CIF Chair Mr. Ritesh Malik highlighted the role of yoga in alternative healthcare. He mentioned that the ongoing collaboration with UHN for joint research and study of traditional Indian healthcare systems has begun to yield positive results. Yoga practice is particularly beneficial for recuperating cardiac patients.
Dr. Paul Oh, GoodLife Fitness Chair in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention, Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program at Toronto Rehab, Dr. Tracy Colella, Scientist & Clinician from the Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation Program at KITE Research, and Mr. Satish Thakkar, Immediate Past Chair of CIF, were also present at the event.
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MAGA-MIGA Partnership Promises $500 Billion in Trade | |
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According to India’s Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal, the India-US relationship has entered a critical phase, holding out great promise of joint efforts in a range of sectors. Negotiations expected to be concluded in the next “six to eight months”, according to the Minister will lead to dramatic increase in their trade volume to touch $500 billion by 2030. (Read more.)
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India On Track to Building the World’s Most Powerful Hydrogen-fueled Train | |
India is developing a unique train engine that will be fueled by hydrogen. Dubbed by experts as a world-leading technological development, when fully operational, it is expected to be the most powerful train engine anywhere delivering 1200 horsepower compared to the average 500 to 600 horsepower engines developed by three other countries. (Read more.) | |
Trump Junior’s Plans to Build Ultra-luxury Homes in India | |
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US President Donald Trump’s views on India might be mixed from a trade point of view. But there is an area where the Trumps, especially his son, Eric Trump, will be playing a crucial role in the development of luxury real estate in India. In partnership with Kalpesh Mehta of Tribeca Developers, more Trump towers are expected to come up in India’s urban centres. (Read more.)
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Apple to Expand Supplier Base in India | |
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Kalyani Group, and its flagship Bharat Forge, is the latest entity that might join the Apple ecosystem in India. Recent reports mention that Apple is looking to expand its supplier base in India, catering to its demands for various components and mechanical parts that go into Apple products. In 2024, Apple India produced iPhones worth $17.5 billion and achieved $12.8 billion in exports. (Read more.)
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India’s Tiger Story Continues to Inspire Wildlife Activists | |
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India’s Tiger Story continues to inspire the world’s wildlife enthusiasts for its consistent success. Over the past two decades, India’s tiger population has grown as against a global wildlife population recording a decline. Today 75% of the total wild tigers live in Indian sanctuaries occupying an area of 140,000 sq.km. (Read more.)
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New Life for the Long-neglected Indo-US Nuclear Deal | |
After years of languishing in cold storage, the original promise of the US-India Nuclear Deal signed in 2008 is beginning to see some movement. A joint statement announced their commitment to fully realise the US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement by moving forward with plans to work together to build US-designed nuclear reactors in India through large scale localisation and possible technology transfer. (Read more.) | |
Global Aerospace Industry Invests in Supply Chain in India | |
Western aviation majors are leading a charge to India to source critical parts and components and setting up joint ventures including technology transfers to cater to the burgeoning demand from Indian aviation sector, already the fastest growing in the world. From merely supplying low-end products to the $180 billion global aerospace industry, Indian supplies are moving up to higher-value work such as design, engineering and system integration. (Read more.) | |
UN Climate Chief Lauds India’s Renewable Energy Record | |
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UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell is thrilled with India’s record on building renewable energy capacity. The country, according to him, is well ahead of its targets set by the international alliance. Having built 100GW of solar energy facilities already, he described India as a ‘solar superpower’. He also warned against slacking on climate action due to its potential to degrade almost 35% of India’s GDP by 2050 in the absence of proper climate strategy. (Read more.)
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IIT-ISRO Announce a 100% Made in India Semiconductor Chip | |
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India continues to demonstrate its potential and capabilities by developing made in India solutions to complicated technological challenges. Recently the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the joint development of a semiconductor chip that is uniquely designed and built to serve the aerospace industry. The entire process—chip design, fabrication, packaging, motherboard design and fabrication, assembly, software development, and booting—occurred within India. (Read more.)
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Canadian Universities bringing in too many Indian students | |
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Canadian Immigration Minister Miller said that Canada needs to return to relying on “quality” over “quantity” of immigrants. “I think we do need to make sure that the Canadian brand does focus on excellence, on quality, and less quantity,” he said. The comments were delivered at a media roundtable in Brampton, Ont., one of the Canadian cities most impacted by an unprecedented spike in immigration overseen by the Trudeau government since 2021. (Read more)
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CIF Urges Community Members to Donate Blood | |
Canada India Foundation continued its efforts to help create awareness in the community to donate to the Canadian Blood Services. Blood is always a critical element in healthcare with the power to save lives. CIF is encouraging members of the Indo Canadian community to be proactive and help in this crucial program.
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Canada India Foundation
5160 Explorer Drive, Unit #1
Mississauga, ON L4W 4T7 Ph: 289-291-0277
E-mail: info@canadaindiafoundation.com
www.canadaindiafoundation.com
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Disclaimer: This monthly e-newsletter is produced by the Canada India Foundation (CIF), a registered not-for-profit organisation with an aim to provide meaningful communication between its own board of governors and with a larger audience of policy makers and industry leaders. Views expressed by writers are their own and the CIF does not necessarily agree with them. We do not claim to provide any advice on any subject. Similarly, we are not liable for any misrepresentation or misleading claims made by an advertiser. Content provided in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. | | | | |
