Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce publishes its Weekly Newsletter, Nov 17, 2021

ICCC Weekly Newsletter

17 November 2021

Canada — India & the Indo-Pacific Region

By Rakesh Joshi

ICCC’s statement on the Indo-Pacific region was read by Rakesh Joshi, ICCC’s Vice President & Director, Legal & Government Affairs, at ICCC’s Meet & Greet Program with Federal Members of Parliament on 12 November 2021

We had our Chamber’s elections in October, and we now have a new board. The new board is keen to develop relations with the federal leaders of all political parties to push for a policy framework that promotes the interests of Canada and India and is non-partisan.

Before I commence with my statement on the policy framework, I want to emphasize that the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce is a Canadian organization, and we believe in Canadian values. We respect differences in people, including protected grounds as per the Ontario Human Rights Code as amended from time to time.

These include age, ancestry, color, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, etc.

The new political and economic reality is that trade has emerged as the determining factor in building and maintaining all relationships between nations. So, even when nations differ politically on important matters, they continue to trade. All will agree that this is a wholesome development.

As a Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to free trade that is regulated to ensure the interest of a nation and its people are protected. Canada is a trading nation and should trade more, and trade with more nations.

We must understand and acknowledge that political factors determine economic decisions.

One of the biggest emerging geopolitical concerns globally is the Indo-Pacific region.

Over the last couple of years, democratic nations have forged alliances to work together to promote democratic values, and free trade that breaks any existing or…