WTC Mumbai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indo-Pacific Foundation of Canada (IPFC) to promote trade and investment between India and Canada. The agreement also aims to strengthen ties between the two countries, facilitating business connections and people-to-people interactions.

Mr. Gurjeet Malhi, Board Member of the Indo-Pacific Foundation of Canada (IPFC), emphasized the organization’s rapid growth and its role as a facilitator for businesses entering the Canadian market. He stated, “IPFC, though a relatively young organization, has grown by leaps and bounds since its foundation in April 2024. Our focus is to promote the synchronization of business and culture between Canada and countries in the Indo-Pacific region. We serve as the nodal point for businesses looking to enter Canada. Our motto is connecting culture and commerce.”

Expressing enthusiasm for collaboration with WTC Mumbai, Mr. Malhi marked this MoU as the beginning of broader trade engagements between India and Canada. “Though trade relations are currently subdued, we hope this collaboration will serve as the foundation for various new initiatives with India, particularly in trade,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of WTC Mumbai stressed the importance of strengthening trade and economic relations between India, Canada, and the Atlantic region. He remarked, “The need of the hour is to promote international trade and investment. Amid global trade uncertainties and rising protectionism, India and Canada share many complementarities that can be leveraged for mutually beneficial outcomes. There are limitless opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as energy, technology, AI, renewable energy, and film production.”

Ms. Ria Chopra, Chair of the Media and Entertainment Committee at IPFC, emphasized the need for a unified platform to facilitate regional cooperation. “Most relations between Canada and Indo-Pacific countries are bilateral in nature, making coordination a challenge. Through IPFC, we aim to create a common platform to foster engagement across all Indo-Pacific nations,” she stated.

Ms. Rupa Naik, Executive Director of WTC Mumbai, invited members of the Indo-Pacific Foundation of Canada to explore trade and investment opportunities in India.

The meeting for MoU signing was held at WTC Mumbai, with board members of the IPFC and officials from WTC Bhubaneswar, WTC Goa, and WTC Jaipur participating virtually. Mr. Jamshed Mistry, Founder of the International Legal Alliance and Strategic Advisor to IPFC, physically represented the IPFC at WTC Mumbai.

The meeting was attended by Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman of WTC Mumbai; Ms. Aakruti Bagwe, Director of Operations, WTC Mumbai; Ms. Priya Pansare, Director of Trade Promotion, WTC Mumbai; and Mr. Santosh Kotre, Director of Finance, Accounts, and Administration, WTC Mumbai.

Headline Image Caption: Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, WTC Mumbai (5^th from left) with Mr. Jamshed Mistry, Founder, International Legal Alliance and Strategic Advisor to IPFC (4^th from left) at the MoU signing event. Also seen in the picture are (from left to right): Mr. Santosh Kotre, Director, Finance, Accounts, and Administration, WTC Mumbai, Ms. Aakruti Bagwe, Director- Operations, WTC Mumbai, Ms. Rupa Naik, Executive Director, WTC Mumbai, Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai, Ms. Priya Pansare, Director-Trade Promotion, WTC Mumbai.