India: India

India Dept: India's growing importance in B.C.'s resource-based economy is underscored by the rapid increase in exports that at least one Indian business leader expects to top the billion-dollar-a-year mark within five years, according to Vancouver Sun. India is the world's 10th largest economy, but in terms of purchasing power parity - a measure of relative consumer prices across countries - it is the world's third largest. Canada is currently negotiating a free-trade agreement with India and Pat Bell, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, said the province is lobbying with Ottawa and major airline carriers to initiate direct flights between Vancouver and India and the British Columbia government is sponsoring a global business forum on B.C.-India trade in March as part of a broader initiative aimed at taking advantage of the growing trade links between this province and the sub-continent. "India offers huge investment and export opportunities for B.C. business," Barj Dhahan, chairman of the Canada-India Foundation, said in a news release on the forum. "I believe we can grow our exports to $1 billion per annum within the next five years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.