Events

APF Canada's sponsored film: Grand Tour. Screenings on September 26 and September 30. 

While India, in its 75-year existence as an independent state, has achieved much in fulfilling the dreams of Nehru and his successors to obtain major power status, why is this quest still unfinished? 

Along with the meteoric rise of China, there has been much interest in this question and in the emergence of India as a rising power. The rapidly developing U.S.-China rivalry has also given India an added importance in world politics with many viewing the country as a significant 'swing power' that can help balance China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Certainly, India’s current leadership, under Narendra Modi, and the Indian public, believe that the country is destined to be a global power.

In this APF Canada partnered event, Professor T.V. Paul will discuss the rise of India and what are the external and internal constraints in the pursuit of major power status that India must contend with. As Professor Paul will argue, the development of an inclusive, tolerant democracy that can utilize its most priced asset, the demographic dividend, will be essential for India to gain greater international status and influence in the 21st century.

About the Speaker

T.V. Paul is Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Distinguished Fellow at Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. He also served as the President of the International Studies Association for 2016-17 and is the Founding Director of the Global Research Network on Peaceful Change. 

Paul is the author or editor of 24 books and over 80 scholarly articles/book chapters in the fields of International Relations, International Security, and South Asia. His books include The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi, Restraining Great Powers: Soft Balancing from Empires to the Global Era, and The Warrior State: Pakistan in the Contemporary World. Paul currently serves as the editor of the Georgetown University Press book series: South Asia in World Affairs.

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), APF Canada is pleased to invite Kakehashi alumni to a special online event. Okinawa’s second largest island, Iriomote is one of Japan’s best-kept secrets. Home to stunning natural beauty, Iriomote offers a unique blend of lush mangrove forests, crystal-clear waterfalls and rivers, pristine beaches, coral reefs teeming with marine life, and the rare Iriomote wildcat—an endangered species found only on the island.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2021, the island is a paradise for eco-tourism and outdoor activities and connection with Japan’s unspoiled wilderness. Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventurer, or just looking for a serene escape, Iriomote guarantees an unforgettable experience.

The Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council (ABLAC) comprises a high-level group of Asian and Canadian business leaders convened annually by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada to identify and articulate opportunities for improved Canada-Asia business engagement.

Council membership is represented across Canada and more than 10 Asia Pacific economies, and annual meetings are held in cities throughout Canada and Asia. Launched in 2016, ABLAC has emerged into a critical forum to catalyze dialogue and action.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and Universities Canada are delighted to announce that the Canada-in-Asia Conference 2025 (CIAC2025) will be held February 19-21, 2025, at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore.

The Conference provides a range of opportunities for engagement and exchange with likeminded partners:

Plenary sessions focused on global topics such as geopolitics and sustainable infrastructure.

Concurrent sessions organized around four Sectors and four Engagement Tracks.

Networking sessions to meet and connect with potential partners.

The annual CIAC Gala Dinner, the centrepiece attraction for Canadians with interests in Asia, and for those based in Asia who have business, institutional, or personal connections to Canada.

About CIAC

The Canada-in-Asia Conference is an annual, multi-directional engagement platform for Canada-based and Asia-based companies, institutions, universities, and governments. CIAC convenes business leaders, experts, investors, policy-makers, researchers, and innovators from across Asia and Canada to exchange perspectives, knowledge, and ideas, with the goal of facilitating collaborative partnerships.

We look forward to seeing you in Singapore in February 2025!