The sales and marketing activities, designed to promote Brampton's excellent investment and business alliance opportunities, that was undertaken by the ICCC and the Brampton delegation has generated positive and measurable outcomes.
II. Markham, Ontario Visit in ICCC India Mission 2012 and 2013 In 2012, ICCC worked with Markham to lead a multi-sector, multi-city business delegation to India. India Mission 2012 paved the way for more intense collaboration with the suburban cities. For ICCC’s India Mission 2013, Markham continued its collaboration. Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, along with councillors and officials from the local economic development department were part of the Mission to meet representatives from local Indian cities. During the India Mission 2013, the Mayor of Ahmedabad, Asit Vora explained the diverse operations of the Ahmedabad municipal corporation. The Mayor explained the rapid growth of the city as it was awarded for its beautiful infrastructure, education and the public amenities provided to the citizens. He wanted to have synergy between Ahmedabad -Brampton-Markham for promotion of City to City trade. All the Mayors agreed on reciprocal visits of business leaders in both the cities. During India Mission 2013, the Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti, remarked that “There is a deep appreciation in Markham of the very significant contribution of the South Asian community”. The contribution that Scarpitti referred to was not just in the business sphere, but also in the cultural aspect as well. “Markham and Brampton (another city in Canada) are just two of the communities that have realised the contribution of the South Asian community,” informs Scarpitti. Thus the Mayor was enthusiastic about the Vibrant Gujarat concept, which he felt makes for a really good trade contribution. Incidentally Markham is known as Canada’s high-tech capital and boasts of more than 900 firms in this sector in that city. Her main employment generator however lies in another sphere, one that is as close to the Indian hearts as is IT – the SME segment. “A large number of the entrepreneurs in the SME segment are from India,” informs Scarpitti.
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