TiE Toronto in collaboration with Consul General of India has been organizing breakfast seminar on ‘Doing Business in India’ for the past two years.  CXOs of Canadian companies that has operation in India or CXOs of reputed Indian companies visiting Toronto have been invited to share their perspectives viz, opportunities, challenges, cross-cultural issues, partnership intricacies etc., about doing Business in India, a fastest growing economy.

Marvin Hough, Executive-In-Residence, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, was the key note speaker during our Dec 8th seminar.  As Senior Trade Commissioner in New Delhi, Hough has been instrumental in supporting Canadian companies dealing in India.

I welcomed the gathering and Preeti Saran, Consul General of India addressed  the gathering about Indian  economy  and business opportunities. Hough had presented about growth opportunities for Canadian companies in India, opportunities for trade promotion and the challenges faced by Canadian companies in India. He also detailed about the priority sectors viz, Agriculture, Food and Beverage, Service Industries and Capital Projects, Information and Communications Technologies, Electric Power Equipment and Services, Aerospace and Defence and Oil and Gas Equipment & Services  for Canadian companies to  focus on Indian markets.

The event was well attended by entrepreneurs interested in establishing business  in India, professionals from companies involved in doing business in India, Partners in legal & accounting firms, Indian consulate officials, TiE members and academicians. Hough also stressed on the importance of cultural sensitivity issues that Canadian companies should be aware of,  understanding  the softer issues of their partners, what works and what doesn’t  work in the Indian context. We believe that TiE presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs of leveraging relationships with its India based chapters.  TiE has 12 chapters in major cities in India whose membership comprises of entrepreneurs, investors and professionals in different industries.

The breakfast seminar was organized by TiE Toronto, a chapter of global, not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship. TiE provides a platform for mentoring, networking and education. TiE’s mission is to foster and advance entrepreneurship across the globe. Its principle objective is to provide a platform on which people with entrepreneurial spirit and those interested in economic value creation can come together to share ideas. TiE endeavours to cultivate and nurture the ecosystems of entrepreneurship as it sees this to be the single most powerful instrument of prosperity.

TiE was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. There are currently more than 16,000 members and over 2,500 charter members in 53 chapters across the globe. TiE charter members comprise of leading entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, fund managers, CXOs and professionals advisors. TiE regular members are aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is on generating and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.

 Author: Suresh Madan is the President of TiE Toronto