Canada Should Seal New Opportunities In India

India's growing leadership at world stage and its economic rise has created new opportunities for Canada for mutually beneficial economic strategic partnerships, a leading Canadian journalist believes. "21st century has been extraordinary century for Indo-Canada economic, political, technological and cultural ties, and Canada should seal new opportunities in India without waiting anymore," John Stackhouse, Editor-in-Chief,Globe and Mail has said. Stackhouse was addressing a large number of top executives of Canadian companies at the 7th annual Diwali Gala Dinner, hosted here at the Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) on Thursday night. SM Gavai, High Commissioner of India to Canada, Preeti Saran, and Consul General of India were among the dignitaries who were present on the occasion. "We will see India emerge as a global leader as it occupies a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council from 2011-2013, but it has to work hard day and night to secure a permanent seat at the Security Council," Stackhouse said. He also complimented India for successfully hosting the Commonwealth Games despite initial criticism. Delivering the keynote address, Chanda Kochhar, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ICICI Bank said that this was the time for Canadian companies to invest in India and grab the opportunity to ride the new growth wave that the country would see in the coming decades. "With growth gradually getting more wide-spread across regions, and with distinct signs of even lagging states gradually gaining momentum, it is the high time to invest in India," she said.