Information Technology and Communications

It was the most intimate affair that the Canada-India Business Council hosted in the first quarter of 2010 but it had the same impact as the larger scale events. Sachin Pilot, India’s Minister of Communications and Information, was guest of honour at a reception and dinner on March 31, 2010 at the head office of Bennett Jones LLP. He was accompanied by key government policy makers, including Dr. Gulshan Rai, Director General DIT, Mr. Rakesh Singh, Additional Secretary, DIT and Dr. Amandeep Singh, Private Secretary to the Minister.

Minister Pilot first spent some time with senior executives of Research in Motion (RIM), Sun Life Assurance and Bennett Jones, the event’s three sponsors. He then joined the 70 other guests in attendance where he shook hands and chatted with everyone before proceeding to the dinner.

Hugh MacKinnon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bennett Jones and Rana Sarkar, President and Executive Director of the C-IBC, welcomed everyone and spoke of the emerging business and investment opportunities with India. Preeti Saran, Indian Consular General, introduced the Minister and pointed out that at 26, he became the youngest Indian MP when first elected in 2006 and has been widely described as representing the next generation of Indian leadership.

In his speech Minister Pilot discussed the exponential growth of the internet and cell phones in India and the $60-billion in IT investments that is forecasted and the opportunities this represents. There are 560-million cell subscribers in India and 15 to 18-million users are added monthly. Minister Pilot pointed out that the potential for collaboration in two areas where Canada and India must address a common challenge of geography – remote connectivity and telemedicine.

Atul Astana, Vice President, Global Standards at RIM thanked the Minister and also discussed opportunities that do and will exist between the two countries. During the buffet dinner guests mingled, exchanged business cards and talked business. It was a very worthwhile evening for all involved.