India is one of the emerging markets that Canada has been looking at to increasing its trade ties, giving the longstanding economic cooperation between India and Canada a fresh impetus.

Indo-B.C. Trade & Investment Set-up in Bangalore
Very recently the British Columbia (B.C.) Trade and Investment representative Office was opened in Bangalore. It's the first of its offices opened by B.C. Trade & Investment in India headed by Pratap Raju who has been appointed Trade and Investment Representative. Raju, who has a proven track record of establishing business relationships between Indian and international organizations, heads a dedicated panel of professionals with international business and consulting experience
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The Bangalore office is B.C.'s sixth Trade and Investment Office in Asia. The establishment of the office is a component of the province's Asia-Pacific Initiative, a landmark effort to position B.C.'s economy to benefit from the unprecedented opportunities arising in India and Asia as the balance of economic power shifts towards the region. The initiative builds upon B.C.'s legacy of strong economic, cultural, and personal ties with India in order to strengthen its competitive position as the preferred economic and cultural gateway between North America and the Asia Pacific region.

The Bangalore Office helps Indian investors form joint ventures with, and make investments in B.C firms. The team also helps firms from British Columbia achieve their business objectives. The office focuses on the following sectors: information and communication technology (ICT); biotechnology and life sciences; advanced energy and environmental technology; and advanced education.

B.C.'s bilateral trading relationship with India was worth $410 million in 2008, an increase of 120 per cent compared to 1999. Over the same period, total exports to India from B.C. have more than doubled to reach $170 million. Imports from India to B.C. also increased substantially - from $103 million in 1999 to $240 million in 2008. B.C. plans to capitalize on its strong and open economy and unique geographical location by becoming the preferred gateway to North America. Further, B.C.'s multicultural population, dynamic SME sector and highly skilled workforce have proven to be critical elements in the success of many Asian (and Indian) companies located in the province.

Bangalore is India's third most populous city and is known around the world as the 'Silicon Valley of India' due to the numerous research institutes and information technology (IT), software, aerospace and telecommunication companies headquartered in the city.

Stockwell Day Launches Trade Office in Gujarat
The Ministry opened its trade office in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 25 September coinciding with the penultimate day of Navratri (An Indian festival comprising of dancing and singing for a period of nine nights). Since Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced last year to deepen trade ties with India, Canada has already opened two trade offices in Hyderabad and Kolkata. This will be the third such office to be opened in India. Prior to these three offices, Canada had a trade office in Bangalore.

'The opening of a trade office in Gujarat fulfils our long-standing demand. It is a great news for Canadian companies looking for trade with India's fastest growing state,'' said Winnipeg-based Hemant Shah who lobbied with the Canadian government for the Ahmedabad office. Canada's top companies such as Bombardier and McCain Foods have plants in Gujarat.

Trade Office Opened at Kolkata
Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, concluded a successful visit to India, where he opened a new Canadian trade office in Kolkata, a dynamic business, transportation and financial hub and the country's fourth-largest city in January.

"Our new office in Kolkata will give Canadian companies another competitive edge in one of our priority markets and further strengthen our commercial relationship with India," said Keddy. "I am proud to say that the addition of this new office in India will create one of Canada's most extensive trade networks anywhere in the world."

Keddy visited Kolkata before attending a ministerial-level meeting on the WorldTrade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Round, held September 3 and 4 in New Delhi.

"Canada continues to support an ambitious and balanced outcome to the Doha negotiations. Canadian agricultural producers, manufacturers and service providers stand to benefit from the expanded entry to global markets and strengthened trade rules arising from successful negotiations," said Keddy. "Our government will also continue to defend supply-managed industries in the WTO negotiations."

Keddy's builds upon a trade mission led by Minister Day in January, during which the Minister announced an agreement to initiate exploratory discussions toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Canada and India.

Mr. Keddy also reinforced Minister Day's commitment to sign a Canada-India Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) as soon as possible.

India is a dynamic, rapidly growing market that represents a huge potential for Canadian goods, services and technology. In 2008, Canadian merchandise exports to India totalled $2.4 billion, a 35-percent increase over the year before. Two-way direct investment reached $1.8 billion in 2008.