International Trade Committee on Nov. 29th, 2012

[Naval Bajaj]

No, I won't. Our time is short.

As a chamber, we took our delegation of January 3.... Last November, we signed an MOU with the Diamond Bourse of Canada. In one of the interesting studies that came out—and there might be someone who is more expert than I am on this one, but still, whatever I know.... The rough diamonds that come from Canadian mines are of good quality. As for what happens with these rough diamonds that come out, nothing is done here. They're not weighed; they're packed and taken to Europe. There, everything is done. Again, 70% of them go to India, where the polishing and cutting happens. Out of that 70%, 90% come back to North America.

Just think about where the mobility thing comes into place. We have invited a delegation from the diamond dealers out there, the diamond industry cutters and all of that, to come to Canada. We are going to take them to the mines out there and show them what is happening, but they need, to establish their industry.... These diamonds would have not been taken to Europe. You would have the diamond-cutting industries and polishing industries here. Everything would be here.

If mobility were allowed.... What happens is that some of the skilled labourers don't know how to speak English, or they don't know some of the things that we have as requirements in Canada. When it comes to bringing them here, it's a challenge for them, so you cannot set up some of the industries here, but we are able to set up that industry here. Everything stays here. Again, it benefits us. Some of the benefits are given to the middle countries.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

That's another great example of an opportunity.

Go ahead, Mr. Shory.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Bajaj, thank you for making it short.

[A voice]

Oh, oh!

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

I admire your passion, and I thank you for doing the great work for the community diaspora and for being the advocate of Canada to India.

You have said a lot of good things, but you have given me the impression that maybe the Government of Canada has to move fast. My question to you is this: would you agree? You were with the delegation this time as well. You know very well that both Prime Ministers have reaffirmed their desire to complete this agreement by 2013.

In the last six years, our Prime Minister has visited India twice. There was another chance when they appointed an Indian Bollywood actor ambassador to brand Canada, basically. Our Minister Fast has been to India, and not only Minister Fast, actually; in the last couple of years, approximately 30 ministerial visits, I would say, have been made to India. Do all these activities help in terms of branding Canada in India? That's my question.

[Naval Bajaj]

Yes, they do, 100%. When I was last here in Parliament on Diwali, I mentioned that. I really applaud the government, and especially the Prime Minister for the stands he has taken in the last three years, which have helped to move this file. The file is moving. At least we are all sitting here and speaking about it. We are all interested in it. There is a lot happening between the two countries.

When it comes to the branding, the ministerial visits, the Prime Minister's visits.... One other thing, which was also mentioned, is that when the Prime Minister visits, one of the most significant things it shows is how much Canada is interested in doing trade with India. That's the biggest significance of it. All the treaties come. All the deals come. That's one—

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Bajaj, he will cut me off. I have one more question. It's 5:30.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Very quickly, please.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

The diaspora is people-to-people ties, and you took the delegation last time. You are also taking the delegation this year. The good thing you are doing is that you are taking the local politicians, the local leaders, with you. It's very important that all three levels of government know what enormous opportunities we have in India.

My question is this: as a chamber, what are you doing on the Indian side—because you are also connected in India—to mobilize them to move fast?

[Naval Bajaj]

As I mentioned, we are taking the delegations from here. When we have the seminars, the meetings, and the workshops there, at the same time we are inviting the delegations from India to Canada. Recently, we had a delegation from the Government of Gujarat. They came here, and now we are going back there. When they come here, the whole idea is to brand Canada. What does Canada have to offer?

As for when we go back there, one of the approaches we are taking is the three-tiered government approach, because one of the things we have seen is that the development of a country is not from top to bottom, but from bottom to top. If your city develops, it helps the province develop. If the province develops, it helps the country to develop—the whole country. We say that for the country's development, or the province's, the city has to develop. I think that's the reason we picked up....

The federal government and the ministers can go and do their tricks, but when it comes to the mayors, when it comes to the cities, if we take them and we really show them what the opportunity is, when we take this trade delegation, it's totally branding Canada, believe me. It's creating a lot of interest in the Indian market for Canada.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

If you can answer this in one line, it's about the trade commissioners in India. We have eight trade commissioners. The Prime Minister just announced another opening of a consulate. Do they help SMEs in India?

[Naval Bajaj]

You know what? They do, 100%.

I had a conference call this morning at 8:30 with Nicolas. I had just come from the flight. Nicolas is from Bombay, and he is so helpful. There is an SME convention happening on the fifth. He's involved in the Vibrant Gujarat summit. He's so much involved in that because Canada is a partner country. They are a big-time help.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

That's very good.

This was a very interesting session. We appreciate your being here and presenting. We look forward to having your input as part of our study and to a completed agreement by the end of 2013.

With that, the meeting is adjourned.