New Delhi: Toronto Business Development Centre (“TBDC”), a business incubator funded by the government of Ontario to help Indian startups expand to Canada, hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Ontario Government and the Government of India to build stronger trade relations between India and Ontario. Moderated by Mr. Vikram Khurana, Chairman of TBDC, the roundtable brought together senior Canadian business executives, Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade of Ontario, Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Ontario and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, along with his delegation.

The roundtable focused on a wide range of topics, from scope of expanding India’s Unicorn Startups in Ontario to growing the presence of Ontario’s businesses in India. Roundtable participants highlighted several key points of interest, including Ontario’s status as Canada’s food hub and shared valuable insights on how to enhance the quality of outputs and the importance of adapting quickly to consumer needs and enhancing efficiencies in the agriculture and food business. The discussions shed light on the immense potential for Ontario and India to forge deeper trade ties, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, and explore avenues for enhanced collaboration in various sectors. The exchange of ideas and insights will pave the way for future collaborations and partnerships that will drive economic growth and foster stronger ties between Ontario and India.

Honourable Minister Piyush Goyal expressed India’s unwavering commitment to quality and expressed optimism about increasing the presence of Ontario’s companies in India, contributing to the growth and prosperity of both economies.

In his remarks, Honourable Minister Victor Fedeli highlighted his excitement about the prospect of increased India’s trade and investment with Ontario and increasing the rate of growth in trade and commerce.  He also expressed admiration for the accomplishments and aspirations of the Indian growth projections which make India an exciting market for Ontario’s companies.

Speaking about the discussions, TBDC Chair, Vikram Khurana, stated, “It is inspiring to play a role in high-level discussions, and bringing together key stakeholders from Ontario and India. Such discussions play a vital role in strengthening the relationship between Ontario and India, facilitating the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, and promoting economic growth across borders. The positive discussions make us excited about the growth of the innovation economy and the jobs of the future. We look forward to the positive impacts that will flow from these fruitful discussions. TBDC is committed to facilitating international expansion for entrepreneurs and to fostering collaborative opportunities between Ontario and India.”