An upcoming mission to India will create business relationships and educational partnerships with Prince Edward Island, says Premier Robert Ghiz.
“India is one of the world’s emerging global markets. We are going there to put Prince Edward Island on the map, to promote our province and grow our economy through the many business and partnership opportunities in India,” said Premier Ghiz. “This mission is part of our province’s on-going efforts to stimulate economic growth, trade and international investment.”
Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning Allen Roach will be joining the Premier, as well as representatives from Holland College, the University of Prince Edward Island, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
The Province and ACOA will be working together to represent Invest PEI, a partnership of all three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) working together to attract foreign investment to the province. During this mission, meetings will take place with Indian-based companies to explore options for investing in Prince Edward Island.
“By helping to bring international small and medium-sized businesses to our region, our Government is helping to grow and strengthen the local economy,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “It is through programs like InvestPEI that we are able to showcase Atlantic Canada and the opportunities available to international companies to invest in our Island.”
The mission will provide an opportunity for UPEI and Holland College to meet with educational institutions that may result in future collaborations with the schools.
“UPEI participates in various international activities to further our position as a destination university for Islanders and for people from around the world,” said UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. “On this mission, our international recruitment specialist will look to explore new, and enhance existing, partnerships in India to better promote UPEI’s undergraduate and graduate programs to prospective students. We also feel there is great opportunity for academic and research collaboration with Indian universities, as well as excellent potential for international exchange activities.”
“During the trade mission to India, Holland College will be exploring opportunities to pursue a recruitment and international business partnership,” said Holland College Vice-President of Innovation, Enterprise and Strategic Development, Mike O’Grady. “We will be meeting with high school students, post-secondary institutions, and business leaders to develop relationships.”
The mission will include various events and meetings in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. The Premier and mission delegates will be promoting Prince Edward Island as a business location, specifically in the sectors of information technology, biosciences, renewable energy, tourism and higher learning.
“We hope to build on the relationships that have been established as a result of past missions,” said Premier Ghiz. “The mission team will impress upon Indian companies that Prince Edward Island is an ideal location to make investments and grow their businesses.”
BACKGROUNDER
India: Facts
• India is a vital trade partner for Canada. Canada’s commerce strategy for India involves the coordination of efforts by Canada’s missions in India, federal government departments, provinces, and the private sector. This strategy has defined priority sectors to increase two-way trade, investment and technology partnerships. These priority sectors include: education, clean technologies (including renewable energy), information and communications technology, and infrastructure.
• India is the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people (2011 census), more than a sixth of the world's population.
• Advantages of doing business with India:
- World’s largest democracy; stable political environment
- Strong knowledge base with significant English speaking population
- Robust banks and financial institution
• Economic Information: (2010) (Source, IMF/Statistics Canada)
- India’s GDP per capita: $1,411.84,
- GDP growth rate (%): 10.094,
- Inflation (%): 11.989
• Trade and investment: (2010) (Source, IMF/Statistics Canada)
- Canadian Exports: $2,088,682,941
- Canadian Imports: $2,122,900,500
- Foreign Direct Investment in Canada: $6,554 (million)
- Canadian Direct Investment to India: $492 (million)
• Canadian Representation Abroad: High Commissioner Stewart Beck
Prince Edward Island Mission to India 2012
• Prince Edward Island is an ideal investment location situated between major North American and European Cities, Prince Edward Island offers a compelling package of benefits to prospective companies: improved profitability, skilled workforce and world class strategic infrastructure.
• Prince Edward Island provides businesses with low operating costs, access to markets, tax free programs and rebates, and a highly educated and skilled workforce.
• Invest PEI is a partnership of all three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal) working together to attract foreign investment to the province. During this mission, meetings will take place with Indian-based companies to explore options for investing in Prince Edward Island.
• Holland College’s participation in the trip to India will help the College to understand how the educational system works in India, explore the potential to recruit students from India to Holland College for programs and create networking opportunities to further explore the potential for International Educational Business Development.
• The University of Prince Edward Island will look to strengthen its relationships with private and public high schools, post-secondary institutions, and student recruitment organizations to better promote UPEI and advocate higher learning opportunities at the Island’s only university.
• Premier and the delegates left on February 25, 2012 for an 8-day trip, visiting 3 cities and meeting various Indian information technology, bioscience, energy and educational institutions.