VANCOUVER – Indo-Canadian film director who has made Mumbai and Bollywood his home away from Vancouver has been appointed unpaid BC film Ambassador, the BC government announced post Premier Christy Clark India trade mission.
Clark announced Arjun Sablok, the son of local notary public Tarlok Sablok, as Special Envoy for Film to India to help promote British Columbia to one of the largest film-producing countries in the world. Arjun, a Canadian who has lived in Mumbai for the past 25 years, takes on the unpaid role as an ambassador for the B.C. film industry.
The Premier and Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk led a delegation of over 70 companies, First Nations representatives and post-secondary institutions to meet one-on-one with key Indian investors and government officials. They participated in the signing of co-operation agreements and attended high-level meetings with multiple levels of governments.
“India is an increasingly important trade and investment partner for our province,” said Clark. “Meeting face-to-face with decision-makers strengthens our relationships which are key to making inroads into export markets – in India and around the world. Trade missions help us provide B.C. companies with the opportunities and tools they need to grow their businesses, both here and in the international market.”
“We share close economic, cultural and social ties with India. Not surprising as more than 5% of our population have South Asian heritage,” said Virk. “This trade mission provided an opportunity to promote British Columbia as a high-quality education destination, and to raise awareness of the potential for educational partnerships, student exchanges and joint research initiatives with India.”
Highlights of the trade mission include:
• The B.C. and Punjab governments announced they will work together in the areas of advanced education, skills certification, agriculture and cultural exchange programs to boost economic and cultural ties between the two jurisdictions. They will develop a teacher and student exchange program between UBC and Punjab universities, with a focus on pharmacology, generic medicines and bio-energy.
• The Premier announced funding for 20 scholarships, worth a total of $50,000, to support and encourage the two-way exchange of students between the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and Sanatan Dharma (SD) College in Chandigarh, India.
• B.C. film and entertainment companies North Shore Studios and Vancouver Film Studios signed MOUs with India-based film and entertainment giant Ramoji Film City. Both parties agreed to promote each other in India and British Columbia, and support each other for the purpose of shooting and productions.
