Dhwani Community Newspaper Special
Toronto | November 17, 2025
The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) formally launched its 2026 Trade Mission to India (Bharat) at a well-attended media briefing held at ICICI Bank Canada’s headquarters in Toronto on Monday evening. With more than 70 distinguished business leaders, elected officials, diplomats, and media representatives present, the announcement marked one of the Chamber’s strongest and most coordinated trade-mission kickoffs to date. The gathering reflected Canada’s deepening interest in strengthening commercial engagement with India, one of the world’s fastest-growing and most strategically significant economies.
The 2026 Trade Mission will span multiple Indian states—Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh (representing Punjab and Haryana), Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. Each region offers unique economic potential, and CHCC aims to create pathways for Canadian businesses across technology, education, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, skill development, advanced manufacturing, and investment facilitation. The mission is expected to significantly expand market access for Canadian enterprises and reinforce efforts to diversify trade in line with national and provincial priorities.
The program opened with welcoming remarks from CHCC Vice President Maharshi Jani, who acknowledged dignitaries, sponsors, and media partners for their longstanding support. He highlighted the Chamber’s expanding national footprint and the remarkable success of its previous trade missions, which have contributed meaningfully to strengthening Canada–India economic corridors. His remarks set a clear and optimistic tone for the year ahead, emphasizing the Chamber’s commitment to fostering responsible, sustainable, and mutually beneficial business ties.
CHCC President Kushagr Dutt Sharma provided a detailed overview of the Chamber’s global strategy and outlined the importance of the 2026 mission in the current geopolitical and economic environment. He introduced the leadership team tasked with guiding the delegation:
- 2026 Trade Mission Chair – Dr. Rakesh Kantaria
- India–Canada Trade Committee Chair – Hemant Shah
- 2026 Trade Mission Co-Chair – Amit Chowdhury
Speaking about the significance of the initiative, Sharma emphasized both the economic dynamism of India and the urgency for Canadian entrepreneurs to engage with high-growth international markets. “India continues to be one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and Canadian businesses cannot afford to miss the opportunity,” he stated. “This mission provides a direct bridge between Canadian innovators and some of India’s most promising sectors.”
Building on the President’s remarks, Dr. Rakesh Kantaria expanded on the mission’s objectives and its sector-specific focus. He underscored India’s rising demand for Canadian expertise in emerging industries and innovation-driven fields. Dr. Kantaria also expressed gratitude to sponsors, institutional partners, and community supporters whose contributions have been instrumental in planning the 2026 delegation.
Government Leaders Signal Strong Support
One of the evening’s most significant moments came when MPP Deepak Anand delivered remarks on behalf of the Government of Ontario. He commended CHCC for its consistent leadership in fostering bilateral trade and highlighted the Chamber’s role as a bridge between communities, policymakers, and industry. Anand announced that he had formally recognized the 2026 Trade Mission in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, signalling a strong endorsement from the province and aligning the mission with Ontario’s broader economic and international engagement priorities.
Adding institutional strength to the event, Mr. Himadri Maddipatla, President and CEO of ICICI Bank Canada, welcomed guests and reaffirmed ICICI’s commitment to supporting Indo-Canadian business growth. He noted that the bank plays an essential role in facilitating cross-border financial transactions, advisory services, and commercial connections—critical elements for companies seeking to expand their presence in India. Maddipatla expressed confidence that the 2026 mission would contribute meaningfully to accelerating bilateral business activity.
The event also featured a keynote address by Mr. Kapidhwaj Singh, Consul General of India in Toronto. He praised CHCC’s strategic vision and noted the mission’s alignment with both India’s national development priorities and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Singh emphasized that India’s ongoing economic transformation—driven by digital innovation, infrastructure expansion, clean-energy transition, and manufacturing growth—presents extraordinary opportunities for Canadian companies. He called the CHCC mission a “timely catalyst” for deepening trade, investment, education, and technology partnerships between the two nations.
The media briefing drew considerable attention from journalists and industry observers who engaged in discussions on a wide range of subjects, including supply-chain resilience, digital modernization, cleantech innovation, agricultural advancement, and the evolving role of SMEs in global trade. The event highlighted the Chamber’s strong relationships with Canadian multicultural media, which has played a vital role in informing and mobilizing the business community around bilateral initiatives.
Several delegates noted that the mission comes at a crucial time as Canadian companies look to diversify markets, navigate shifting global trade patterns, and cultivate partnerships in regions offering long-term economic stability and growth potential. The 2026 mission is expected to provide participants with direct access to senior government officials, business councils, investment agencies, and private-sector leaders across India.
To conclude the program, Naresh Chavda, Immediate Past President of CHCC, delivered a heartfelt Vote of Thanks. He acknowledged the contribution of sponsors, volunteers, board members, delegates, and media partners, emphasizing that the success of the launch reflected the unity and dedication of the entire CHCC community. Chavda reiterated the Chamber’s longstanding reputation as a national leader in trade facilitation and affirmed its commitment to nurturing enduring Canada–India partnerships.
About the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC)
The Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening economic, cultural, and strategic partnerships between Canada and global markets. The Chamber facilitates international trade missions, inter-provincial business delegations, policy roundtables, and leadership forums. Its annual Invest India – Invest Canada Summit is widely regarded as one of the country’s premier bilateral business platforms. With its 2026 Trade Mission to India, CHCC continues its mission of fostering prosperity, collaboration, and global economic engagement.
For more information:
Email: info@chcconline.ca
Website: chcconline.ca
— All Picture’s provided by CHCC – News have written based on CHCC provided News release by Hitesh Jagad Dhwani Newspaper Chief Editor
