PM Modi and the Prime Minister of Canada Mr Stephen Harper being presented Siropa (Robe of Honour) and Sword at the Gurudwara Khalsa Diwan at Ross Street, Vancouver

Currently, the value of trade between India and Canada is around $6 billion a year; it is poised to double in the coming five years. Canada has agreed to supply uranium to India over the next five years. Altogether 16 commercial agreements—worth more than $ 1 billion—were signed during Modi’s visit to Canada. This will help create jobs in both countries. Canadians see India as an opportunity with Asia’s rising superpower.

Robert Brown, an industrialist who makes regular visits to India, said the Asian giant has woken up and ready to grow and expand by leaps and bound. “India is a rising power in infancy,” he said. Brown added that India needs a lot of help from other highly developed countries to achieve progress it so badly needs since poverty is endemic.

Surjeet Singh, a chartered accountant, said Modi is pro-business, pro-foreign investment and has a successful track record of remarkable progress he achieved in India’s Gujarat state which he headed prior to his election as India’s national leader.

Warm welcome to the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi on his arrival, in Toronto, Canada on April 15, 2015

“There is a lot of optimism in India today,” he said. “After decades of decay, uncontrollable corruption and crumbling infrastructure, India is finally on the right path to becoming a super power and a bigger trading and investment partner with many western and Asian nations.”

India’s globe-trotting Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his successful three-day visit to Canada to boost economic development and strengthen ties between the two countries.

It was obvious, Modi, the shrewd and charismatic Indian leader, was not bothered by protests in Toronto and Vancouver, home to a large number of Sikhs. He visited Sikh temples and was honoured by local Sikh leaders and he commended the community for their contribution to Canada.

Nahmoud Gillani, an Ismaili Muslim optometrist in Vancouver, British Columbia, said thousands turned out to welcome the Indian leader. Gillani said that his spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, maintains close relations with India and is involved in numerous educational and cultural projects. “The Aga Khan was recently honoured by the Indian Government,” he said. “He also met with all Government leaders, including Modi.”

As expected the ‘rock star’ prime minister got a huge welcome and was warmly received in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Commenting on this, Gilani said, “Despite some allegations against him, the Indian and Canadian masses turned out to greet him. You don’t normally see this.”