International Trade committee  My colleague, Mr. Woo, made a very clear point when he asked, how do we get India engaged in CEPA? What is it that Canada has that India wants? It's food and it's energy. It's not going to take very much in the context of technology transfer through uranium or some sort of nuclear reactor deal to increase that trade number substantially.

International Trade committee  Sure. I'd be happy to, Mr. Easter. Examples would include customs procedures. Indian customs clearance often involves huge quantities of paperwork, which hinders trade by absorbing limited business resources. It's particularly constraining for small and medium-sized exporters.

International Trade committee  We haven't held a forum on trade per se. Obviously, for the most part, our members are people with substantial business interests, both here and in India. With our brother and sister organizations, such as the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce or the Toronto Indus Entrepreneurs or the Canada-India Business Council, we will discuss these amongst ourselves during round tables.

International Trade committee  Yes.

International Trade committee  Correct. You heard from Mr. Sierra, whose company of course is involved in India and Canada and is looking to bring engineers back and forth. It's a very cumbersome process as it is now. It's getting better with the existence of additional visa programs, but that's still something that can be streamlined further.

International Trade committee  As we've indicated in our presentation, only 20% of India's nuclear requirement has been met. There's an extraordinary opportunity there for Canada. I think the Prime Minister has recognized it, and I think the government has recognized it, first of all by starting these discussions with India a few years back, and now by setting a sunset date—and a hopeful sunset date—on the conclusion of an agreement within the next year or so.

International Trade committee  Certainly, I think, the more resources that we put towards enterprise, the more visibility we will have, and the better that will speak to us—

International Trade committee  I think the establishment of the commission in Bangalore is a step forward in terms of allowing companies both in Canada and out of India to partner up and to get information. I think that if you look at the countries doing substantial trade—some of the European nations and obviously some of the Asian nations—you'll see that they have a greater presence on the ground in India.

International Trade committee  I think part of the issue with Australia is proximity. We're a little far away from Australia, but the advantage we have over Australia is a substantial diaspora here. That diaspora is now becoming more engaged than it ever used to be, and there's a sense now that there's a substantial proud heritage, whereas before it wouldn't be something that people would necessarily publicize or publicize as loudly as they do.

International Trade committee  Well, I don't think the government has failed. I just think, as I indicated earlier, that the emergence of India and China over the past number of years perhaps was not as big an issue as it could have been until we had the financial crisis in 2008. After that took place, I think people looked further afield for markets.

International Trade committee  I don't know if we've missed the boat. I think we've just been slow to get on the boat. I think part of the allure for Canada is that within 200 miles of 80% of the population you have had the largest consumer society in the history of the world. Frankly, up until 2008, it appeared that it was going to continue endlessly.

International Trade committee  Honourable Chair, distinguished members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade, and ladies and gentlemen, my name is Rahul Shastri. I am the national convenor of the Canada India Foundation. I am accompanied today by our executive director, Mr. Sundaram.