Canada appoints Indo-Canadian Nadir Patel as envoy to India

Indo-Canadian Nadir Patel has been appointed as Canada's new High Commissioner to India, a move aimed at strengthening the relationship between two countries.
44-year-old Patel's appointment was announced by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and International Trade Minister Ed Fast yesterday.
"We are pleased to announce the appointment of Nadir Patel as Canada's new high commissioner in the Republic of India," they said in a joint statement issued by the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development department of Canada.
"Patel brings a wealth of experience and will strengthen even further the Canada-India relationship, including on bilateral trade and international security," they said.

Patel, who had served as Canada's consul-general in Shanghai from 2009 to 2011, succeeds Stewart Beck.
High-level engagement is a key priority for Canada in the country's partnership with India, the statement said.

"In this spirit, both ministers Baird and Fast will be travelling with a Canadian delegation to India on October 13 and 14 for bilateral meetings in New Delhi," it said.
Patel will join the ministers on this visit.
The statement said Fast will continue by leading a trade mission from October 12 to 17 covering Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh, and will support Canada's ambitious pro-trade plan to help Canadian businesses explore new export opportunities.

Patel, who was born in Gujarat, migrated with his parents to Canada when he was young. He went to Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo (Ontario) where he finished his undergraduation. Patel did his MBA from New York University and London School of Economics.
Until recently he served as assistant deputy minister for corporate planning, finance and information technology, and as chief financial officer at Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development in Canada.