TORONTO, 22 October — Canada’s Industries Minister Allan Rock is intending to undertake an extensive tour of South Asian countries, including India and Pakistan early next year.
"I will going to Hong Kong and China later this year. And hopefully I will be touring South Asian countries next year," he said while addressing a gathering of South Asian industrialists, businessmen and bankers at Toronto’s Bayview Club. The gathering was organized by Anwar Merchant, president of Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) in coordination with Toronto-based business organizations of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Prior to Rock’s speech, these organizations announced the formation of their joint body called SABCA (South Asian Business Council Alliance) to promote trade between Ottawa and South Asian states.
"There is enormous potential for growth in two way trade between South Asia and Canada, Rock said. He told the gathering that last year, Canada’s trade with South Asia was $2.6 billion with India being the largest trading partner followed by Pakistan.
He hoped that South would continue to be a growth market for Canada in the 21st century.
"You don’t have to look very hard at any country in South Asia before you see some very appealing business opportunities," he said adding: "Pakistan is privatizing key public sectors, Sri Lanka is a springboard for Canada into the Indian market and India is the 11th largest economy in the world with more than 300 million affluent consumers."
