About Us

Established in 2007, Canada India Foundation (CIF) is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established with the following objectives:

  • Strengthening bilateral relations between Canada and India
  • Helping Indo-Canadians in all spheres of their entrepreneurial, and professional journeys.
  • Building brand India in Canada and Brand Canada in India for better understanding of both the countries to augment the all-round relationship.
  • Annually recognize & honour a prominent global achiever. CIF Global Indian Award is presented to an outstanding person who has demonstrated global leadership, vision, and personal excellence.
  • Organize sectoral forums that enable a better understanding of the expanding economic, commercial and professional relations between Canada and India.
  • Position the need for a strategic partnership between Canada and India as critical to Canada’s future.

Mandate

Since its inception in 2007, Canada India Foundation has taken a leadership role in fostering stronger bilateral relations between Canada and India.

Through active participation in the public policy debate and engagement with Parliamentarians, CIF plays a pivotal role in transforming Canada’s relations with India by emphasizing India’s criticality to Canada’s future.

  • CIF leadership played an active role as advisor for bilateral negotiations between the two countries on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA (under negotiation). The free trade agreement once signed will open up a big market for Canadian entrepreneurs to invest and do business.
  • CIF actively engaged stakeholders in the energy sector through its Energy Forum to get Canada India closer in their energy needs. Signing of nuclear deal was one such success.
  • CIF through its various forums (Energy, Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, Mining, Infrastructure) engaged stakeholders from Canada and India to come on a single platform to discuss various aspects to complement research and development in both the countries for their cooperation and collaboration.
  • CIF also invited eminent speakers from different walks of life to express their viewpoint on different subject. It should not be misunderstood that we support or favoured their viewpoint.
  • CIF always believes in dialogue to create a synthesis on issues of vital importance to and conducted roundtables, seminars and conferences.

CIF works towards raising the profile of Indo-Canadian community by facilitating:

  • Participation by qualified Canadians of Indian origin in the policymaking and the legislative process and within crown agencies, government boards and judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals
  • Engagement with federal and provincial elected representatives on crucial bilateral issues such as trade enhancement, diaspora engagement, simplifying immigration procedures, professional accreditation etc.

CIF takes an active role in increasing the awareness among Canadians about the transformation taken place in India, and the promotion of Canada’s interest in India. CIF members are among Canada’s top industrialists, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and top-tier professionals. Together, CIF members provide employment to a few thousand Canadians, and they are key influencers of Canadian public policy enjoying tremendous respect and prestige in Canada.

CIF proactively assists in shaping a definitive pro-India policy framework in Canada by working with decision makers in the federal and provincial Canadian governments. Policy analysts following the amazing progress of Canada – India relations concur that substantial improvements have occurred in the last ten years – coinciding with the formation and growth of CIF