CPBC and DI Partner to Highlight Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Newcomers The Newcomer Entrepreneur Xchange (NEXT)

The Canada Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) partnered with Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute (DI), critical subject to promote entrepreneurship for new immigrants and youth. The event was moderated by NexGen who also attracted a large number of youth and a substantial representation of future entrepreneurs from Mississauga and Brampton. The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration sponsored the vibrant event.

The innovative seminar combined training, networking, and access to community resources for young professionals and newcomers; it was held at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. Leveraging the past success of CPBC and DI initiatives the valuable statistics capacity for business development in multicultural communities. We were able to achieve the primary objective of inspiring entrepreneurs of the Peel region providing them with tools, network and necessary guidance to start their own businesses. Attendees included and weren’t limited to people from Canada, Pakistan, the Consul General of Sri Lanka, Ulm Jauhar was present to show encouragement and support.

Members of NexGen, Zain Dossal, and Ms. Wania Sulaiman welcomed guests with a brief introduction of CPBC NexGen and its mandate.

Mr. Samir Dossal, in his address, highlighted the tireless efforts of CPBC made in strengthening ties between Canada and Pakistan, he recalled how the trade between the two countries had grown substantially since four years ago when he had just assumed his role in the organization; he stressed that this was not the end and a long way was still ahead of the organization, highlighting the importance of the role that entrepreneurs play in bilateral trade.

MP Iqra Khalid, a lawyer by training, recounted her background and experience, what she was striving for in her efforts locally and nation-wide. Her speech was insightful and impressive, giving credence to hard work and dedication in achieving and exceeding goals and expectations. After her speech she presented a certificate to CPBC.

Dr. Wendy Cukier, founder of Diversity Institute and professor of entrepreneurship and strategy, gave an in-depth presentation wherein she spoke at length about immigrant entrepreneurs, the barriers they face in Canada and the potential that they unlock in driving innovation and growth in the Canadian market. Amongst the challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs were issues such as: getting a foreign credential recognized, establishing a business organization, and understanding the market. Dr. Cukier reviewed the services offered in support for entrepreneurs as well as the challenges in relation to them; she would offer solutions to the issues present which would drive efficiency and growth. The presentation was skillfully executed and filled with beneficial material which shed light on a topic often overlooked.

Dr. Cukier then moderated the panel for their insights. Included in the panel was, Akif Siddiqui, a partner at PwC; Naveed Hyder, CPBC Director and Founder of H5 Interiors; Imtiaz Seyid, VP of South Asian and Middle Eastern Markets, RBC; Muhammad Saqib, Business Centre Manager, BDC. The panelists contributed their personal and professional experiences, shedding light and nuancing issues with practical examples. Muhammed Saqib highlighted the business opportunities available in outskirts of Toronto of retiring businessmen willing to sell established businesses.

Imtiaz shared his experience of carving his way to create a niche market. Ms. Naveed Hyder shared her experience of how staying authentic to herself led her to success. Mr. Akif emphasised the importance of creating value by harnessing deeper relationships and remaining authentic with hard work and dedication.

Following this, the Ontario Ministry of Small Business, represented by Kenzie McKeegan and Julian Portelli, spoke about Small Business Access and its goal of bringing together resources specifically curated for small business owners which included a dedicated hotline and 24/7 online access.

The Small Business Access was established with a lot of community feedback and as such reflected a very accurate and immediate reference point for small business concerns; they also shed light on its various initiatives, Employing Young Talent Initiative (EYTI), Graduated Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (GAGE), and Employer Completion Bonus (ECB), as well many other initiatives undertaken to best cater to the small business sector in Ontario. Attendees were highly delighted at this opportunity, and for many it was the first time learning about the efforts of the Ministry.

The highlight of the event was the keynote speaker, Zeeshan Ali, VP of Salesforce, who led the audience on a very humbling recollection of his life from a young age.

Each one of the attendees took something away from his inspiring presentation, He spoke at length about his experience as a budding entrepreneur from a young age and emphasised on the importance of networking for entrepreneurs; his advice was based on practical examples from his personal experiences with practical and immediately implementable points. He created a high that a created a buzz through the subsequent networking session with everyone eager to for a chance for a one on one chat with him.

Nilufer Mama, CPBC Director, concluded with motivating words for all those in attendance, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship as well as the efforts of the CPBC. The event was extremely well attended and liked with a lot of good questions that came from the audience who were keen to listen and learn from the collective experience of all those presenting

Jane Pilot, VP & Director CPBC commended CPBC and DI for organizing a positive event to inspire the youth. She made the comment for entrepreneurs to look to mentors and owners of companies that were looking to retire soon; referencing BDC who spoke about many companies looking to it in place plans to sell their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs.

A quote from a participant ” The organization of the event was absolutely impeccable and that the speeches and all the contributions were of an amazingly high standard. I am certain that the attendees would have learned a lot and the whole experience would have provided them with new ideas for the future.”

Canada Pakistan Business Council (CPBC), Diversity Institute (DI) and CPBC NexGen effectively and positively contributed to the needs of immigrant entrepreneurs and all those who may consider entrepreneurship in the future by connecting the vast immigrant community to resources and organizations which would help them achieve and sustain their success; this sentiment was echoed by those in attendance who highly praised the event and the CPBC for taking the time to provide such a valuable resource to Canada’s diverse communities.

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Jayne Pilot, Vice President, CPBC chosen as one of Canada’s Top Board of Director candidates to impact Canada’s Corporate Boards and improve global competitiveness.

Jayne Pilot, President of Pilot Performance Resources Management Inc. was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Board of Director candidates to impact Canada’s Corporate Boards and improve global competitiveness. PhaseNyne (parent company of Women’s Executive Network-WXN,  with the Canadian Board Diversity Council and Stevens Resource Group, announced this January 16, 2018.   

To select the candidates,  the Council vetted the list through a process endorsed by 24 participating CEOs (Deloitte, Shell, Sun Life Financial, Goldcorp, Teck, FedEx, Suncor, CIBC, etc.) and executives (Diversity 50 Champions and Proxy Committee members).

Jayne Pilot with Consul General of Pakistan Imran Siddiqui and Samir Dossal, President CPBC

 

 Jayne is Vice President of the Canada Pakistan Business Council and works in Global Business Management with large corporations in all business sectors (manufacturing, mining, utilities, waste management, food) and Trade groups.   Her background includes over 30 years in international standards,  policy,  business governance, strategic planning as a visionary and innovator,  risk management, sustainability, environment, quality, and health & safety.

CPBC promotes RI Convention, Toronto, June 23-27, 2018; partners with Pakistan Rotary District 3272

The President of Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC), Samir Dossal was invited by Rotary District 3272  to be the Keynote speaker at the Rotary International Convention Promotional Seminar held in Lahore in September 2017.

The seminar was organized by the vibrant Rotary District 3272 representing Northern Pakistan, currently led by their District Governor (DG) Pakistan, Faiza Qamar, a distinguished personality and the first woman DG in Pakistan. This event was well-attended and a number of distinguished Rotary District leaders spoke at the seminar. The entire event was professionally organised with a packed to capacity Convention Hall with presentations that included how to apply, what to expect, and expectations of Rotarian as Ambassadors of Pakistan

Rtn. Sajid Iqbal, Chair of the Convention Promotion Committee District 3272 began the evening by welcoming participants, guests, and fellow Rotarians and Rotractors.

Mr. Sajid Iqbal, Chair RI Convention Toronto Promotion Committee.

 

The event was emceed by Saifullah Ijaz, Member of Rotary Club Lahore Crescent, who performed his role splendidly. Mr. Masrur J. Sheikh outlined the process to the attendees for registration for the upcoming convention in Toronto. He covered both online and manual registration processes in-depth for all to understand.

Panel Discussion

 

Mr. Samir Dossal, President of CPBC, was the keynote speaker. He addressed the August gathering and spoke about the importance of developing ties between Canada and Pakistan, echoing the potential that lay in mutual cooperation and common goals of business development. Samir highlighted that the bilateral merchandise trade increased about threefold in the recent past to cross the $1.44 billion-dollar mark.

CPBC President Samir Dossal, Past President Rotary Club of Richmond Hill

 

To support the RI Convention, CPBC will host its 35th Anniversary Annual Gala and Awards Night around the RI Convention, with special emphasis on Rotary Theme this year. Additionally, CPBC in collaboration and partnership with The Ministry of International Trade is planning to host a Seminar on Opportunities of Doing Business in Ontario and How the Government of Ontario can facilitate.

DGN Mubarak Ali Shahid presented the Vote of Thanks.

Final concluding remarks were presented by DG Faiza Qamar who emphasised on how Rotary IS Making A Difference and playing an important role in the eradication of polio.

 

District Governor Faiza Qamar

 

Amongst the guest speakers were Mr. Abdul Basit, the President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce (LCCI). He addressed the audience and highlighted the huge potential that exists between Canada and Pakistan, which would result in strengthening their relations and benefitting people in both the countries.

Mr. Abdul Basit, President, Lahore Chamber of Commerce

 

In a follow-up meeting, The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry offered to join hands to support the Rotary International Convention being held in Toronto. The decision was made in a meeting between Mr. Abdul Basit, President LCCI, Mr. Samir Dossal, President CPBC, and Mr. Sajid Iqbal, Chair RI Convention Toronto Promotion Committee.  LCCI & Rotary District 3272 to collaborate and work on the modalities of a joint delegation. Furthermore,  Mr. Samir Dossal gave a detailed briefing to the President LCCI about the opportunities available in Canada on the economic front.

LCCI Meeting

 

Later at an exclusive lunch hosted by Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Excellency Perry Calderwood expressed his appreciation towards the role of the Rotary in eradicating polio from the face of this Earth. Pakistan is one of the few jurisdictions where a final push is required to eliminate polio. He also advised the Rotarians to begin their Canadian visa process from February 10, 2018, to March 10, 2018, and assured them of the support and guidance from the High Commission in the application process.

High Commissioner Perry Calderwood host CPBC/Rotary

 

Rotarian Sajid Iqbal is appointed by DG Qamar, to lead the District in mobilizing Rotarians to participate in the upcoming Rotary International Convention to be held in Toronto from June 22 to June 27. The RI Convention is expected to draw many Rotarians, it is expected that over 100 people will register from District 3272 alone.

Together we can make a Difference !!!

 

 

Canada Pakistan Business Council and The International Trade Branch of the Ministry of International Trade host an interactive lunch in Honour of Pakistan Stock Exchange at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre

A ground-breaking event took place at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre (OITC) in Toronto – titled “Pakistan, the Long View”. The event was dedicated to Pakistan and the Pakistani Stock Exchange (PSX), co-hosted by the Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) and the Ministry of International Trade (MIT). Mr. Akhil Tyagi, the Ministry’s Area Manager Asia/AustralAsia, International Programs Division opened the conference, speaking about the role of the government of Ontario, economic development, cooperation and highlighted that they did not only consider themselves as co-hosts with the CPBC but were “supporters for all time”.

Mr. Samir Dossal, President of the CPBC took the stage and set the tone of the event, which was excitement and anticipation. Highlighting the positive inter-governmental developments that had occurred previously, he added that 2018 would be a very good year for Canada-Pakistan relations. He recounted that in the past four years trade between Canada and Pakistan had increased from around C$400 million to nearly C$1.44 billion. Canada Pakistan Business Council was honoured to have played a role in strengthening the economic relations between the two countries. He expressed his excitement that Canadians were contributing to Canada Pakistan relations as both the previous managing director of Pakistan Stock Exchange, Mr. Nadeem Naqvi, and the incoming Managing Director, Mr. Richard Morin, are both Canadians.

Mr. Naqvi highlighted the progress that the Pakistani economy had made over time and encouraged Canadian companies to look at business and investment opportunities in Pakistan. He read the message of  Pakistani Consul General Mr. Imran Ahmed Siddiqui unable to attend due to personal reasons, highlighting the importance of the stock exchange and putting confidence in the incoming CEO of the PSX.

 

 

 

Mr. Muneer Kamal, Chairman of the PSX, and former Chairman of the National Bank of Pakistan, tuned-in from Pakistan. Mr. Kamal gave the outline of how the PSX reached where it was now amidst Pakistan’s history, geopolitics, and the challenges the country had faced domestically and internationally.

Mr. Kamal highlighted the positive socio-political and economic developments which led to the continuing stabilization and normalization of the country. He furthered explained the transition of the Pakistani stock exchange that occurred in recent years wherein it was turned into a demutualized public company, consolidating three of Pakistan’s exchanges – Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi – into one and finding strategic buyers for 40% equity stake in PSX from China consisting of China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFEX), Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange. A significant development was Pakistan being reclassified into MSCI Emerging market Index in June 2017. These developments promised a very different and successful capital market in the coming years.

Mr. Naqvi highlighted the growth of the middle class as a favourable business opportunity and the positive impact of CPEC on the local economy, employment and incomes was likely to be a game changer in Pakistan. He spoke on the long-term outlook for the Pakistan economy in terms of its locational advantages, attractive demographics of 200 million population, its markets, and resource base. It would be vital to notice rapid urbanization, the middle class, already 40 million strong and the rising consumer spending; the undocumented economy which was estimated to be 50% of the officially documented economy and intertwined with lack of financial sector penetration in rural areas and limited product choices. As a result, he estimated that while the official GDP was US$320 billion in 2017, the effective GDP was nearer US$480 billion and expected to reach US$600 billion by 2020. Already, real GDP growth was on track to achieve 6% in 2017-18 after having grown by over 5% in 2016-17.

Mr. Naqvi stated that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative by the Governments of China and Pakistan envisaged US$60 billion investments into infrastructure and power sectors over the next 15 years. UK and EU businesses are participating in a host of industries, Mr. Naqvi brought to attention the immense opportunities within the US$74 billion international trade of Pakistan for Canadian companies were there to export goods to and invest in Pakistan and the potential opportunity for Canada therein, discoverable through platforms such as CPBC.

Mr. Richard Morin, the incoming Managing Director of the PSX, who hails from Montreal, spoke at length about his background and experiences. With his experience in the Montreal Stock Exchange and other exchanges in Africa, he saw immense opportunities as well as some challenges that he expected to face while in Karachi. He was very positive about developing the market in Pakistan and turning it into a strong and successful exchange. His vision to advance the PSX to the next level was highly ambitious and concrete with primary focus on investor protection, raising the investor base with secure and trusted investment options and bringing private businesses to list on PSX.

The highlight of the event was when Honorable Dr. Reza Moridi, the Minister of Research, Innovation, and Science, Government of Ontario, announced that he would be visiting Pakistan in the near-future. He spoke about the potential for business and investment for both Pakistan and Ontario and how ties should be strengthened and promoted for the betterment of all parties. He noted the importance of the CPBC and MIT and greatly appreciated their efforts in enhancing Trade and bilateral relations. He thanked both for organizing this event. CPBC is honored that Dr. Moridi announced his visit at our CPBC Forum.

DR. REZA MORIDI ANNOUNCES VISIT TO PAKISTAN IN FEB 2018

Mr. Samir Dossal delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging Dr. Reza Moridi, Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Mr. Imtiaz Seyid of RBC  and other attendees and participants individually, and concluded that the PSX was in good hands with Mr. Morin and TEAM PSX and that 2018 would be another exciting year. Mr. Dossal welcomed the visit of Dr. Moridi to Pakistan and extended full support.

Thank you TEAM CPBC, its Directors, Advisors, Sponsors, Members, and Volunteers for making this a successful event. Credits to Hasan Siddiqui for this report.

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further enhance bilateral relations between Pakistan & Canada

The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC)     signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) here on Tuesday.

President RCCI Raja Amer Iqbal and President Canada-Pakistan Business Council Samir Dossal signed and exchange documents.

 

While commenting on the occasion, CPBC president Samir Dossal said that the major objective of this MOU was to promote bilateral trade ties and mutual benefits of the business communities of both countries. He said this agreement will help in promoting direct company-to-company linkages between CPBC and RCCI members.

Both organizations will cooperate with each other to establish and develop direct and effective business relations between their respective offices and to facilitate arranging business to business (B2B) meetings on a reciprocal basis.

Earlier, president Raja Amer Iqbal gave a short briefing on RCCI key initiatives, exhibitions, trade fairs, industry-academia linkages and Women Business Incubation Center (WBIC). He said that through this MOU information on Canadian, Pakistani Trade Fairs, missions, seminars and other business-related events will be shared to CPBC and RCCI members.

Under the agreement, both organizations will work cooperatively to identify and explore business opportunities between Canada and Pakistan, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, and technology transfers.

Current President Zahid Latif extends Greeting and Invitation to CPBC to visit Pakistan

CPBC continues to work towards strengthening relations with various trade bodies and chambers. Amongst its many partnerships, CPBC enjoys its longstanding relations and MOU with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI), Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT), Brampton Board of Trade (BBoT), Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT), and others.

 

Constellation: A great example of global cooperation and how Canada Pakistan come together

At the recent CPBC 34th Anniversary Gala, Mr. Dexter Salna of the Constellation Group shared his experience on their engagement in Pakistan.

We are pleased to share his experience with you.

 

Mr. Dexter Salna – CONSTELLATION GROUP

 

 

So how did Constellation open a division in Pakistan?

We did not plan to open an office, we happened to acquire a UK company with a division in Pakistan.

Gladstone PLC (UK) was acquired by Constellation, and their Karachi branch office of 12 people (operational since 2007) was subsumed in July 2010.  This may have been the extent of the branch office, but 2 years earlier, I had hired Bilal Mahmood, a Canadian, with a Pakistani origin.  Bilal offered to move to Karachi to manage and build the branch office.

In my division, the group supplying software to Homebuilders was interested to add programming staff after a dramatic collapse of the US homebuilding industry.  We were able to hire quality staff in Karachi to assist in software development.  After the success in the homebuilding group, more software divisions decided to hire staff in Pakistan.  This spread further to other Constellation operating groups.

We now have 325 employees located in offices in Karachi and Lahore, and have demand for 45 more staff.  We support 53 different software products for development, quality assurance, IT support, customer support, professional service and assist the finance department in North America.

We support departments located in time zones from Vancouver to Sydney.

I have made 2 visits to Pakistan and many people that I interviewed told me that it was the best place to work in Karachi/Lahore. I am looking forward to accompanying CPBC in their next delegation to Pakistan.

 

CPBC Hosted a Canada Pakistan ICT Conference last year

 

CPBC signs MOU with Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) as part of its outreach to bring value to all its partners and stakeholders.

In an auspicious event on June 14th, 2017 held at the University of Toronto’s Erindale Campus’ Innovation Centre, a memorandum was signed between the Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) and the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT). After registration, breakfast and welcoming remarks the event provided an opportunity for the guests to network – sharing ideas and establishing connections to accomplish results. David Wojcik MBOT’s CEO spoke a few words before the signing of the MOU. All guests cherished the moment with the impressive speech given by CPBC president Samir Dossal who acknowledged the huge efforts made by the MBOT and its Government Relations Director Brad Butt; prizes were presented to people throughout the event by means of a lucky draw.

Apart from the CPBC president Samir Dossal, other members of the board included:

 

– Alam Khawaja, CPBC Director

– Naveed Hyder, CPBC Director

– Dr. Erum Siddiqui, Education Committee

– Aamer Khanzada, Pegasus CEO (ICT)

– Nadeem Chaudhary, Outreach Committee;

– Imran Gondal, Education Committee

MBOT proactively serves the interests of the business community in the City of Mississauga through methods such as advocacy and business development. MBOT is a progressive organization that is the “voice of business” in local and international markets for Mississauga.

CPBC is the leading private sector organization that aims to develop international business between Canadian and Pakistani companies. CPBC promotes commercial linkages between Canada and Pakistan and is an advocate for the various industries’ needs to the government. Canadian and especially Mississauga-based companies need reliable, accurate and timely information when it comes to potential business opportunities arising in Pakistan. Likewise, Pakistani businesses which desire to expand into the Canadian markets seek to find opportunities in the Greater Toronto Area – especially Mississauga.

 

There is a general lack of awareness among many Canadian companies on the potential of the business that is present in Pakistan and the capacity which Pakistan can deliver at when it comes to technology, products, and services. A strong Canada-Pakistan trade relation inherently requires the development of direct private sector linkages, business development and then deepening of investment relations between the businesses two countries. The opportunity is perfect as Pakistani companies are seeking to globalize their efforts and find partnerships in countries such as Canada.

 

The parties agreed to:

1. Work cooperatively to identify and explore business opportunities between Pakistan and the Mississauga business community and beyond; including joint ventures, strategic alliances, and technology transfers.

 

2. Promote direct company to company linkages between MBOT and CPBC business members.

 

3. Develop ways that companies can reduce the risk of entering bilateral business relationships between Pakistan and Mississauga/Canadian markets.

 

4. Advocate for policies to the Canadian government that lessen hindrance in the development of business linkages between Pakistan and Canadian companies.

 

5. Be a forum for networking, exchanging ideas and information and advancing the interests of the MBOT and CPBC.

 

6. Provide a business match-making service identifying opportunities between Mississauga and surrounding business areas and Pakistan to the banner of respective MBOT and C-PBC members and qualify potential collaborators.

 

7. Access and offer market intelligence on business sectors, industries and companies to MBOT and CPBC members.

 

8. Provide information on Canadian and Pakistan trade fairs, missions, seminars and other business related events to MBOT and CPBC members.

 

9. Work collaboratively with Government to address members’ needs and the trade-related barriers they encounter.

 

There are a lot of aspects that will need to be addressed and so it is understood that all parties involved will take positive initiatives to carry on this partnership and jointly avail opportunities and funds. We look forward to signing and strengthening ties between MBOT and CPBC.

The event created many opportunities of networking and opened further opportunities in promoting education and educational institution which can mutually benefit countries like Pakistan.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Pakistan, CPBC is reaching out in preparing a working paper related to skills and vocational training

 

OICCI and CPBC collaborate to explore joint opportunities of Business between Canada and Pakistan.

Seminar: Sharing Experiences, Exploring avenues of cooperation in the Infrastructure development and power generation sectors in Pakistan

Organized by: Canada Pakistan Business Council (CPBC)

Event date: September 7, 2017

Venue: Ontario Investment & Trade Centre, Toronto

 

Key Participants:  Mr. Khalid Mansoor – CEO Hubco / President OICCI Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry Pakistan, Mr. Akhil Tyagi – Area Director of the Trade Branch of Ministry of International Trade, Government of Ontario, Mr. Perry John Calderwood – High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, Mr. Imran Siddiqui – Consul General of Pakistan in Toronto, Dr. Shafiq Qaadri – MPP Etobicoke North, Ms. Wendy Cukier – Director Diversity Institute Ryerson University, Mr. Roy Fergussan of Chantler Packages, Mr. Brad BUTT, of Mississauga Board of Trade, Mr. Badar Shamim representing Brampton Board of Trade, Representatives of FPCCI, Business People etc.

Mr. Akhil Tyagi:

Mr. Akhil Tyagi opened the seminar by introducing himself and welcoming all the distinguished guests. He gave a brief of his Ministry’s role in capacity development, providing help in information dissemination, and establishing connections among relevant partners. Mr. Tyagi also mentioned that the Ministry leads business delegations to certain countries and help bridge trade and business gaps between Canadian and those countries. He welcomed the Mr. Khalid Mansoor, CEO Hubco & President OICCI and Excellency Perry Calderwood to the session visiting from Pakistan.

Mr. Tyagi thanked the participants for their presence at the event and invited Mr. Samir Dossal – President CPBC to the podium.

Mr. Samir Dossal:

Mr. Dossal thanked the guests for their presence at the seminar and appreciated the continuous support extended by Mr. Akhil Tyagi. He also mentioned that it is due to Mr. Tyagi’s support that CPBC has been able to connect with the Government of Ontario at various levels.

Mr. Dossal spoke about the support extended by H.E. Mr. Perry John Calderwood – High Commissioner of Canada in Pakistan for business developments and initiatives between Canada and Pakistan. He highlighted that due to the efforts of H.E. Mr. Calderwood and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto, the trade between the two countries has exceeded $1.4 billion.

Mr. Dossal thanked Mr. Imran Siddiqui – Consul General of Pakistan in Toronto, Mr. Roy Ferguson of Chantler Packages, Mr. Brad Butt of MBOT, and representatives of FPCCI for their presence and their contributions towards the enhancement of bilateral relations. He further mentioned that he is scheduled to meet with the business communities during his two weeks visit to Pakistan, where he will encourage them for taking Canadian market as a lucrative business avenue. Mr. Dossal also acknowledged the role of HE Tariq Azim Khan, Pakistan High Commissioner in introducing Canadian Solar Companies to Pakistan.

Mr. Dossal then invited Mr. Imran Siddiqui – Consul General of Pakistan in Toronto to speak at the seminar.

Mr. Imran Siddiqui – Consul General of Pakistan in Toronto:

Mr. Siddiqui welcomed Mr. Khalid Mansoor and the distinguished guests and spoke about the benefit s of economic development. He mentioned that though $1.4 billion trade between Canada – Pakistan is not satisfactory and that there is an urgent need of working on building connections and establishing communication platforms. He further mentioned that the Consulate General of Pakistan has taken initiatives on innovation, science, and technology and is working towards useful collaborations between Pakistan and Canada in research and development; an initiative supported by CPBC. 

Emphasising on the growth prospects, he highlighted that Pakistan is an emerging market and has great potentials, which is the reason that China has made over $50 billion investments recently under CPEC. He further stated that CPBC can play its productive role in selling Pakistan’s case to the Canadian partners for improving trade relations in science, technology, and innovation.

Mr. Siddiqui re-iterated his full support and assured that the consulate general will give briefings to all those who are interested in trade with Pakistan.

He then thanked the participants of the seminar.

Mr. Samir Dossal thanked the Consul General and mentioned that such sessions and interactions will lead to positive developments towards improved trade and development between the two countries. He then invited Mr. Khalid Mansoor to the podium.

Mr. Khalid Mansoor – CEO Hubco / President OICCI Pakistan:

Mr. Mansoor thanked Mr. Samir Dossal and Mr. Akhil Tyagi for taking the initiative and giving him the opportunity to speak at the occasion. He gave an overview of the growing economic conditions of Pakistan for 2017-18, spoke on the country’s demography, and highlighted the three main contributors to the economy i.e. services (60%), agriculture (20%) and industry (20%) in Pakistan. Following are the key highlights of his detailed talk.

Established in 1860, OICCI Karachi is the oldest chamber of commerce in South Asia, which also has the honor of being the only chamber visited by Mr. Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan. OICCI is the representative body of 193 foreign investors from 35 countries, employing over a million human resources and is the largest chamber in terms of the contribution to the economy. The chamber members account for to one-third of the total tax collected in the country.

OICCI and CPBC in principal have agreed to collaborate to explore and research on joint business opportunities in Canada and Pakistan and will work towards a structured Understanding subject to approvals between respective Management  Committees.

During the talk he highlighted the great energy potentials in Pakistan especially through coal, wind, and solar-based energy sources. Furthermore, Pakistan’s coal reserves are the cleanest in comparison with other coal-producing countries, whereas the current energy production through coal is ZERO. Keeping in view the huge coal reserves in the country and its low cost of energy production, the energy sector in the next couple of years, will not only move to this important source of energy but will also reach the potential of producing surplus energy.

Speaking of China Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC), Mr. Mansoor mentioned that the CPEC is the game changer; gave details about the investments potentials in energy, infrastructure, and technology. Links being established from Gawadar seaport to Kashghar, covering all the major cities and establishment of 9 industrial and economic zones with fiscal incentives offered. Furthermore, the lucrative incentives offered by the government to industrialist were of great importance.

Thar coal is considered as the 7^th largest in the world, which is currently 10% ahead of the project schedule. Phase I of the project is expected to be adding 2 x 330-megawatt plants by 2019, which will be further expanded to 4 more projects of 330 megawatts each in Phase II by 2020; the project is expected to be adding 4000 megawatts by the year 2025 to the national grid.

On the political arena, Pakistan has stabilized with stronger political set up; the present government will be the third consecutive 5 years term of political set up in the country. The security situation has improved to a great extent. Paramilitary forces have taken a front role in controlling the security situation and due to their concrete steps taken, more than 80% of foreigners are now comfortable coming over to Pakistan. Due to the strict measures taken by the Army and other law enforcement agencies, most of the board meetings of OICCI members are now held in the country especially in Karachi. It is also estimated that with the ongoing measures the GDP will soon grow up to 7%. The energy crises will be over soon and it is expected that by the year 2018, Pakistan will be adding 8000 – 9000 megawatts into the national grid.

SECP has remained very active due to which corporate governance has improved a lot. The tax system is being streamlined for which OICCI is also playing an important role. OICCI has formed a committee within itself which is closely monitoring the tax systems improvements. Based on the investment incentives offered by the government, Pakistan is considered as the most lucrative investment market in comparison with other regional countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Iran.

He reiterated that the current CO2 emission level of Pakistan is 163 million tons which is projected to reach to 236 million tons after the transformation of energy production from oil to coal. However, some of the high CO2 emission producing countries are, UK 448 million tons, India 2074 million tons, USA 5306 million tons, and China 9020 million tons.

The session ended with the Q&A session.

Mr. Samir Dossal thanked Mr. Khalid Mansoor for the detailed talk and invited the High Commissioner of Canada in Pakistan to speak on the occasion.

H.E. Mr. Perry John Calderwood spoke of his wonderful experiences in Pakistan and gave assurance that his office will do its best to improve the current business and trade situation with Pakistan. He acknowledged the growth of Trade exceeding $1.4 billion as a positive indicator in the right direction. He further mentioned that he has met with the business community in Pakistan and is overwhelmed to know of their interest in improving the trade and investment with Canada.

Speaking of the visa related issues, he assured that his office is doing its best to solve the problem and streamline it further. H.E. Mr. Perry assured that very soon visa related positive results will become visible and emphasised that his office is available for providing all-out support for improvement of trade and development between the two friendly countries.  He thanked President Dossal and CPBC for their proactive role.

Mr. Samir Dossal thanked H.E. Mr, Perry for his support and cooperation and invited Mr. Shafiq Qadri, MPP Etobicoke – North to speak on the occasion.

Mr. Qadri thanked the H.C. of Canada in Pakistan and Mr. Khalid Mansoor for their contributions. Highlighted that the Canadian companies are setting up businesses in Pakistan, especially in Karachi. Furthermore, direct flights have increased between Canada and Pakistan which has further supplemented the trade efforts between the two countries. He Thanked Mr. Samir Dossal and assured his support and cooperation for CPBC.

Mr. Samir Dossal ended the seminar thanking the participants and acknowledged Mr. Akhil Tyagi for his support.       

 

CPBC Proudly Hosts Luncheon to Celebrate Merger of Packages and Chantler Packaging

 

 

CPBC HOSTS A LUNCH TO RECOGNISE AND CONGRATULATE PACKAGES GROUP AND CHANTLER PACKAGING, CANADA ON THEIR JOINT VENTURE IN THE AREA OF HIGH TECH PACKAGING INDUSTRY. 

CPBC welcomed Syed Haider Ali, Managing Director/CEO Packages Limited visiting Canada to participate in their first joint board meeting.

Syed Haider Ali spoke about their JV and acknowledged Chantler and the Ferguson Family for their professionalism, expertise, and specialization in this field. He was appreciative of the fact that they have found a great partner in Chantler and is keen to take this relationship to new heights. These sentiments were reciprocated by Mr. Roy Ferguson. Packages will continue to maintain the professionalism whilst providing them technical and financial support including the opening of world markets for their products.

Mr. Roy Ferguson who will continue to serve as the CEO of this newly formed CHANTLER PACKAGES. He was appreciative of the role of the Consulate General of Pakistan and the CPBC for providing the logistics and comfort level. He praised the Packages Group for its professionalism and the state of the art technology being used in their Global operations which were second to none.

 Mohsin Masud, having served in Packages prior to immigrating to Canada, now the Head of Sales Canada at Chantler, was the key contact between the two companies. He acknowledged the mentorship and guidance of Syed Babar Ali and Syed Haider Ali during his time at Packages. He kindly acknowledged the role CPBC and the Consulate General of  Pakistan played in facilitation in the initial stages leading to this merger.

To share this good news Senator Salma Ataullahjan congratulated everyone for making this a reality.

Canada Pakistan Business Council was acknowledged for their contributions in facilitating such contacts.

MP Salma Zahid, Co-Chair of the Canada-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group assured the support of the Federal Government. She invited CPBC to be a part of their delegation under Parliamentary Group which is being planned in the foreseeable future. 

Earlier Samir Dossal welcomed the guests and recounted the relations with Chantler. Samir acknowledged the support of Imtiaz Syed representing RBC, Corporate sponsor of CPBC and Mr. Farooque Dawood, the founding member of CPBC for his guidance when needed.

The session was interactive and the general consensus was that the success of Packages and other similar companies need to be highlighted and CPBC can continue to play a meaningful role to create these connections.

 Closing the session Hon. Bryon Wilfert recognized the role of its directors and advisors and the key sponsors for their ongoing support for Canada Pakistan Business Council

Below are salient features of the Joint Venture.

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO – Chantler Packaging Inc. and Packages Lanka (Private) Limited (A subsidiary of Packages Limited, Pakistan) announce the creation of a joint venture, Chantler Packages Inc., which will carry on and grow the business operations of Chantler Packaging.

 The joint venture represents the joining together of a major packaging company with a global footprint and a long-established Canadian enterprise with a history of innovation.

 The new company, Chantler Packages, will assume the employees and operations of Chantler Packaging. The transaction took effect on June 30, 2017.

“We are excited to partner with Packages, a world-class producer of flexible packaging,” said Roy Ferguson, CEO of Chantler Packaging. “This joint venture will enable us to better serve our customers and increase our value to them.”

 Packages Limited was established in 1956 in Lahore, Pakistan and is the largest packaging manufacturer in that country. A publicly-traded conglomerate with sales of CAD$322 million in 2016, Packages Limited manufactures folding cartons, flexible films, stand up pouches and tissue products. Its customers include global brands in the food, consumer packaged goods, and tobacco industries. It operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. It has joint ventures with a number of international companies in the packaging and fast-moving consumer goods segments.

 “The joint venture with Chantler offers us an entry to Canadian and North American markets, providing a long-term growth opportunity. Furthermore, it gives us a possibility to increase our agility and capability to serve our customers” says Salman Rehman, CEO, Packages Lanka (Private) Limited.

 Chantler Packaging is a subsidiary of Chantler & Chantler Inc., which was founded in 1930 and has introduced many innovations to the Canadian packaging market. Located in Mississauga, the company produces flexible packaging for the food, pharmaceutical and industrial segments within Canada, the United States and elsewhere.

 

 

CPBC 34th Anniversary Gala & Awards Night- Celebrates ongoing growth in bilateral Trade and Relations

 

The Canada Pakistan Business Council (CPBC) celebrated its 34^th Anniversary Gala on May 23^rd, 2017 and honoured distinguished individuals who have contributed in their respective fields of specialization through excellence awards. Maintaining its traditions, the CPBC event was attended by a cross section of people including dignitaries, prominent business and community leaders, members of academia, and other distinguished guests. The well-attended Gala was graced by several hundred people representing the business community and the Pakistani diaspora. This year CPBC partnered with and welcomed a high-powered ICT (Information Communication Technology) delegation from Pakistan headed by Mr. Aamer Khanzada of Pegasus Consulting. The visit was inspired by the ICT Forum through the joint initiative last year of the Consulate General, Ministry of International Trade and CPBC, thereby creating an additional opportunity to connect Canada and Pakistan, and to bring together each others excellence and diverse strengths in a manner that enhances collaboration in this sector.

Prominent dignitaries that attended the event also included MP Salma Zahid and MP Rob Oliphant – Co-chairs of Canada Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group; MP Iqra Khalid (Mississauga); MPP Lorne Coe (Whitby-Oshawa); MPP Dr. Shafiq Qaadri; Dr. Donald Bobaish, Deputy Minister, Global Affairs Canada; Mr. Eric Joliffe, Chief of Police York Region; Linda Jeffery, Mayor of Brampton; Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham; Mr. David Agnew, President SENECA; Hon. Bryon Wilfert, Chairman CPBC; Samir Dossal, President CPBC, and many more.

CANADA PAKISTAN MERCHANDISE TRADE EXCEEDED $1.4 Billion Dollars

Dr. Reza Moridi – Minister for Research, Innovation, and Science – was the Guest of Honour. In his keynote speech, Dr. Moridi, who holds a Ph.D. in Physics, acknowledged the contributions of Nobel Prize winners from Pakistan and conveyed a message of support for greater collaboration between Canada and Pakistan in the fields of science and technology.

Premier of Ontario, Hon. Kathleen Wynne extends greetings to celebrate the CPBC 34th Anniversary Gala and Awards Night

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1cP2lsmFHxvVHVpWVd4TXBTeGM/view?usp=sharing

https://www.dropbox.com/s/liuja3h1ncp0dc7/20170512%20PO%20Premier%20Wynne%20Canada%20Pakistan%20Business%20Council%2034th%20Anniversary%20Greeting_V2.mp4?dl=0

 

 

Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, unable to attend the event, sent a heartfelt message in which she appreciated the efforts made by CPBC and its role in enhancing the importance of cultivating pleasant and constructive relations between the two countries.

 

Dr. Reza Moridi accompanied by MPP Dr. Shafiq Qaadri presents greetings from Premier Kathleen Wynne

 

 

Mr. Samir Dossal, President CPBC, expressed his gratitude to all those who sponsored and volunteered for the event and spelled out his vision of exploring new business opportunities and expanding CPBC’s prospects. He also expressed strong support for the platform named CPBC NexGen that has been created for the next generation of young and ambitious community members so that they may expand the existing horizons in developing leadership in various fields, including trade, research, and development.

 

Consul General of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Siddiqui, emphasized the importance of bridging gaps between the Pakistan and Canada in various spheres, especially in the fields of education and research development.

Mr. Andrew Turner, Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in Islamabad, also attended the event and conveyed a very positive message from the High Commissioner, proposing development of confidence building strategies and expansion of bilateral trade from the current level of $ 1.4 billion per year.

Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance; highlighting the increased engagement with Pakistan reference the visit of MP Omar Alghabra Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs) to Pakistan. She also highlighted the support of the Canadian Government to support the eradication of polio from the face of this earth.

Mr. Dexter Salna, representing the Constellation Group, shared his remarkable success story of doing business in Pakistan. He described the exceptional growth that his organization experienced and expressed interest in its continued expansion.

Dr. Donald Bobaish, Assistant Deputy Minister (Asia Pacific), Global Affairs Canada was amongst our honoured guests. Dr. Bobaish has served at the High Commission of Canada in Pakistan and has recently relaunched the Pakistan-Canada joint working group on trade and investment. He has underscored the importance of a mutually symbiotic bilateral relationship to promote commercial and cultural avenues. Dr. Bobaish is also a strong proponent of propagating Pakistan-Canada collaboration through trade and investment and has appreciated CPBP’s exceptional efforts in facilitating bilateral ties between the two countries.

 

 

The Gala was held at the popular GTA venue – Chateau Les Jardin. Canadian and Pakistani national songs were sung by Canadian and Pakistani artists in Urdu, reflective of the warm ties between the two countries.

Delicious Pakistani cuisine was served and guests mingled with each other until late in the evening.

 

 

 

Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Mayor Linda Jeffery

 

 

Chairman, Hon. Bryon Wilfert, highlighted the exceptional growth and engagement between Canada and Pakistan and presented the vote of thanks

CPBC is pleased to acknowledge MPP Dr Shafiq Qaadri and CPBC NexGen Leaders who hosted and emceed the event.

 

Distinguished individuals were honoured in an award ceremony recognizing their outstanding feats in their respective industries and areas of expertise.

 

Shakir Rehmatullah – CPBC Business Excellence Award 2017

President and founder of Flato Development Inc., Mr. Rehmatullah is an outstanding and longstanding member of the Canadian construction industry and is a prominent builder in the residential and commercial sectors.

Dr. Wendy Cukier – CPBC Professional Excellence Award 2017

One of Canada’s leading expert on disruptive technologies, innovation processes, and diversity, Dr. Cukier has worked with more than 40 organizations, spearheading several large scale projects including the SSHRC-funded DiversityLeads.

Zeeshan Ali – CPBC Professional Excellence Award 2017 (Male)

Mr. Zeeshan Ali is the regional vice president of Salesforce and has been inspiring digital transformations within Canadian enterprises. He is a thought and innovation leader and has demonstrated phenomenal business results.

Fahim Hamid Ali – CPBC Excellence Award for Arts & Culture 2017

Mr. Fahim Ali is a renowned artist who has been widely recognized across the world for his artistic prowess and mastery of various mediums.He is one of Pakistan’s premier cultural ambassadors in Canada.

Dr Naweed I. Syed – CPBC Excellence Award for Innovation 2017

Dr. Syed is a professor in the department of cell biology and anatomy at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary and scientific director at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute. He has received multiple awards for his work, including accolades for his brain chip technology to understand brain function.

Talat Muinuddin – CPBC Excellence Award for Humanitarian Services 2017

Mrs. Muinuddin is a founding member and President of Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN), a foundation that recognizes community contributions from female minorities and promotes diversity. She is also the founder and President of Rehma Community Services, an organization committed to improving the quality of life of Muslim immigrants and fostering community development.