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| Councillors Barinder Rasode |
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| Councillor Tom Gill |
FEBRUARY 3, 2011
Surrey Councillors Tom Gill and Barinder
Rasode are joining Mayor Dianne Watts and
Councillor Linda Hepner along with executives from
some of British Columbia’s most dynamic companies
on one of the most comprehensive business missions
ever undertaken by a Canadian local government.
Councillor Gill said, "The economic impact of job
creation and promoting business opportunities
within our great city is extremely valuable. Our
goal is to open the doors to job creation. We
have an aggressive target of creating $20 million
in new business development and creating jobs to
meet the objective of having our residents live
and work within our great city.
"Surrey is uniquely positioned to facilitate
business deals with Indian companies with more
than 27 per cent of our residents being of South
Asian descent. This competitive advantage through
language and culture provides an enormous
opportunity for Surrey to be the focus of
investment and job creation. This leverage,
combined with our geographic location and
available lands (gateway port) make us uniquely
situated to take advantage of business prospects
in India and around the world.”
Participating in the Mission are 32 delegates
representing 24 companies in the clean energy,
education, wood and manufacturing, film and
entertainment, life sciences, communications
technology and business and finance sectors.
In total, over 100 meetings will take place
throughout India. Councillor Barinder Rasode
said, "I am delighted to travel to India and meet
such dynamic, vibrant business people and
introduce them to some of Surrey's most
flourishing companies. I am convinced we can
showcase Surrey's businesses and spark new
rewarding relationships. Of course, I am very
proud of my Indian heritage and it brings me much
joy, to see this bond between our nations
strengthened and enriched."
The trip, which will include elected officials as
well as corporate executives, will take place
February 10 - 21 and include time in Mumbai, New
Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana
and Amritsar.
Selected companies participating in the Mission:
Nexterra – develops, manufactures and delivers
advanced gasification systems that enable
customers to self-generate clean, low cost heat
and power at industrial and institutional
facilities using waste fuels.
Powertech Labs - specializing in clean energy
consulting, testing, and power solutions for
electrical, oil and gas companies, and automotive
and electrical equipment manufacturers.
Ballard Power Systems – a world leader in
developing and manufacturing fuel cells based on
proton-exchange-membrane technology.
Westport Innovations Inc. – a global leader in
alternative fuel, low-emissions transportation
technologies that allow engines to operate on
clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas
(CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and biogas.
Simon Fraser University – offering more than 100
undergraduate major and joint major programs and
more than 45 graduate programs.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - bachelor's
degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates
and citations in over 135 programs.
Mantra Ventures – cleantech and renewable energy
company specializing in carbon and recycling
technology, LED (light emitting diode) lighting
systems, and MRFC (mixed reactant fuel cell
technology.
PwC – global professional services firm. It is
both the largest of the ‘Big Four’ accountancy
firms and the largest professional services firm
in the world.
BC Film – British Columbia Film has the mandate to
expand and diversify the film, television and
digital media sector in British Columbia.
Colliers International – offers a complete range
of services to real estate users, owners and
investors on a local, regional, national and
international basis.
FinancialCad (FINCAD) - FINCAD has become the
industry standard for financial analytics
providing derivative analytics tools and services
to tens of thousands of financial professionals in
more than 4,000 organizations located in over 80
countries around the globe.
Wok Box – a chain of 60 franchised retail
restaurant outlets across Canada selling Pan
Asian-focussed, high quality fast food products.
ICICI Bank – ICICI Bank is India's second-largest
bank with a network of 2,049 branches and about
5,546 ATMs in India and presence in 18 countries
offering a wide range of banking products and
financial services.
Sunrise/Chateau Designs – Surrey-based cabinet
manufacturing company. Chateau Designs
manufactures wood mouldings and trim used in
Sunrise’s cabinet projects.
Endurance Wind Power – is a manufacturer of
advanced wind turbines designed specifically for
distributed wind power applications.
Yotta Solutions – offering on-demand software in a
subscription based model allowing organizations
the ability to subscribe to desired software
programs for a low monthly fee.
Oxus Nexus – a corporate services agency which
specializes in Outsource and Subcontracting
Consulting.
Coast Clearwood – providing BC hardwood and
softwood products to match specific needs of
international markets. Currently servicing Canada,
USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico, China, Korea, and India.
Mill & Timber – a cedar sawmill specializing in
western red cedar products for shipment in North
America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
Jhajj Lumber Corporation - a wholesaler,
remanufacturer, and exporter of Canadian whitewood
lumber.
bioLytical Laboratories – a leading developer and
manufacturer of rapid, point of care diagnostic
assays with near instantaneous results at a
dramatically lower cost than previous testing
platforms. Exclusive manufacturer of the
INSTI™HIV Rapid Test kit.
KPMG LLP – a global professional services firm
providing audit, tax
and advisory services.
Pallan Group – a family owned company that’s been
involved in the BC’s forest industry since 1959.
Pallan Group specializes in timber acquisitions,
logging, sawmilling, remanufacturing and worldwide
timber marketing.
Blake Cassels and Graydon, LLP – One of western
Canada's most prominent legal firms in the area of
investment and commercial enterprises. Blake
Cassels and Graydon represents private sector
corporations in the mining, forestry, and resource
industries as well as public sector clients such
as crown corporations, government ministries and
municipal governments.
