STAFF REPORTER, TORONTO: Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Vic Fedeli, and India’s National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will increase economic opportunities for businesses and create jobs in the innovation and technology sectors.
The signing of this agreement is a direct result of meetings Minister Fedeli had with NASSCOM during the successful Ontario trade mission to India he led last month. This formal agreement will promote technology and technology-based Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), enhance global competitiveness and support collaborative research and development between Ontario and India.
In addition to today’s signing, the trade mission’s results also include:
VVDN Technologies announcing their new facility in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, that will create 200-plus engineering jobs, after months of engagement with the province.
Seneca College signing MOUs with the Thakur Institute of Management Studies and Research (TIMSR), the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), GD Goenka University and the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management.
Advancement of a formal partnership with the State of Karnataka — India’s leader in information technologies — that would provide Ontario with a competitive advantage to access this market and develop opportunities for increased trade, investment and partnership.
Ontario is home to one of North America’s largest innovative technology clusters. The province is well-positioned to seize opportunities for greater collaboration with India, which is on track to become one of the largest technology markets in the world.
“In an increasingly competitive and constantly changing global economy, the provinces have to take a leadership role to diversify trading partners to ensure our businesses have access to the world’s markets,” said Minister Fedeli. “Our government is moving at the speed of business to attract new partners like NASSCOM to make Ontario open for business, open for jobs and open for trade and investment in strategic sectors like innovation and technology.”
NASSCOM is currently leading a delegation of 21 companies from India to Ontario to foster understanding of Ontario’s successful technology ecosystem and learn how to establish operations within the province with confidence. It is the largest not-for-profit industry association in India that represents the country’s US$180 billion Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Management (BPM) industries with a membership of more than 2,200 Indian businesses. This MOU will give Ontario businesses a competitive advantage within the rapidly growing Indian market.
