NASSCOM expands its Launchpad program to Canada

After the visit of NASSCOM companies to Canada in November 2021, NASSCOM announces the Launchpad Program for Canada. It will be NASSCOM’s first such initiative for Canada, in partnership with the Province of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the City of Brampton.

The launchpad will help promote cross-border trade and provide the Indian tech companies opportunity to expand their services into the North American Market.

The Prime focus for the Launchpad will be to provide a platform for the NASSCOM member companies to use as a home base while exploring opportunities to do business in North America. Key features of the program include - up to 6 months’ rent-free office space, developing a hands-on understanding of market opportunities, helping with site selection, government regulations, incentives, and tax planning to establish permanent operations in the region. As part of the program, they expect that an initial set of around 20 companies will create 200+ jobs within 4 years in Canada.

Speaking on the Launchpad announcement, Shivendra Singh, Vice President & Head - Global Trade Development at NASSCOM, said, “This program provides a tremendous opportunity for NASSCOM and its member companies, as it comes amidst the improving pandemic situation. We are thrilled to provide a multitude of options for companies to choose from while deciding their home base in Canada. I am confident that this Launchpad will provide greater momentum for the Indo-Canadian trade and will boost opportunities available for Indian companies. This will further strengthen the role NASSCOM play’s in enhancing global expansion plans for the Indian tech companies.”

This program is part of NASSCOM’s ongoing strategic partnership with the Government of Canada. That aims to facilitate partnerships between the Indian and Canadian technology ecosystems.

And to promote technology-based Foreign Direct Investment between the two nations. The program is being strongly supported by the Indian mission in Canada.

Speaking at the event, the High Commissioner-Designate for Canada to India Cameron MacKay said, “The NASSCOM Launchpad in Canada is a great opportunity for Indian technology companies to invest and expand across Canada. Locating your business in Canada opens the doors to world markets for your company through Canada’s 15 trade agreements with 51 countries and potential access to 1.5 billion consumers. We greatly value our close collaboration with NASSCOM in highlighting the many advantages Canada has to offer and encourage Indian technology companies to take advantage of the Launchpad to explore new growth opportunities in Canada.”

“Through strategic investments and key partnerships with universities and industry, Nova Scotia has built a robust, and still young tech sector that already contributes more than $1.7 billion to our economy, directly employing more than 11,000 people. I was delighted to be part of the NASSCOM visit last Fall, showing delegates all that our province has to offer, including the talent to fuel future growth. I am thrilled to support this initiative, which will help member companies establish a business in Nova Scotia.”—The Honorable Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Economic Development for Nova Scotia.

“At Nova Scotia Business Inc., we work every day to attract innovative, globally competitive companies like NASSCOM’s member companies to establish a business located here. With the NSBI team, you can be assured that once here you are here, you will be well connected to the broader private-sector and academic worlds, and we will work with you to help build your export from Nova Scotia.” Laurel Broten, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Business Inc.

Mayor Patrick Brown, City of Brampton - Ontario Quotes “Brampton is an ideal location for international technology businesses. We have strong investment ties with India, and we are hoping to build on this relationship with our work with NASSCOM and its members. As we move forward in the process of establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NASSCOM, we hope to invite your members to establish their business presence in Brampton with our host of services”.

About NASSCOM

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM®) is the trade body and chamber of commerce in the Tech industry in India and comprises over 3000-member companies.

Our membership spans across the entire spectrum of the industry, from startups to multinationals and from products to services, Global Capability Centres to Engineering firms.

Guided by India's vision to become a leading digital economy globally, NASSCOM focuses on accelerating the pace of transformation of the industry to emerge as the preferred enablers for global digital transformation.

The strategic imperatives are to reskill and upskill India's IT workforce to ensure that talent is future-ready. In terms of new-age skills, strengthen the innovation quotient across industry verticals and create new market opportunities - both international and domestic.

Drive policy advocacy to advance innovation and ease of doing business, and build the industry narrative with a focus on Talent, Trust and Innovation. And, in everything we do, we will continue to champion the need for diversity and equal opportunity.

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