Ajit H. Someshwar
Encyclopedia
Ajit H. Someshwar is an Indo-Canadian entrepreneur
, philanthropist
and social activist based in Toronto
, Canada
. He is President & CEO of CSI Group of Companies. As per the Canadian Immigrant (magazine) (owned by the Toronto Star
), he owns and has investments in dozens of others companies from custom draperies to real estate. He is the co-founder and outgoing National Convenor of the Canada India Foundation
-- a public policy organization. Someshwar is appointee of the Government of Canada Board of the Export Development Canada
-- Canada's export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. Prior to this, during the 2008-2009 global recession crises, Canadian finance minister Jim Flaherty
appointed Someshwar to a 11-member advisory panel along with likes of Mike Lazaridis
, Annette Verschuren
and Geoff Beattie
to advise him on the federal budget and the economy. It was announced that Someshwar, along with the other 10 members were only paid a dollar a year for their insight.
and Bhupinder Khalsa donated a Maple-Leaf Shaped Monument to the Canadian Armed Forces for their exemplary service as global peacekeepers. The unveiling ceremony was attended by a large number of Canadian Armed Forces personnel in their ceremonial attire, as well as top leaders including defence minister Peter Mackay
, opposition leader Michael Ignatieff
, and finance minister Jim Flaherty
.
and int hat capacity advised governments on both sides on the Canada India Civil Nuclear treaty. He has been very vocal about the importance for the provincial and federal governments to put in a concerted effort on regularizing immigrants’ professional qualifications and experience, making the process of absorbing them into the Canadian system a little less painful.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and social activist based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is President & CEO of CSI Group of Companies. As per the Canadian Immigrant (magazine) (owned by the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
), he owns and has investments in dozens of others companies from custom draperies to real estate. He is the co-founder and outgoing National Convenor of the Canada India Foundation
Canada India Foundation
The Canada India Foundation also referred to as CIF, is a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007...
-- a public policy organization. Someshwar is appointee of the Government of Canada Board of the Export Development Canada
Export Development Canada
Export Development Canada is Canada's export credit agency. It is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada, which provides financing and risk management services to Canadian exporters and investors in up to 200 markets worldwide, with spread across all provinces in Canada, and...
-- Canada's export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. Prior to this, during the 2008-2009 global recession crises, Canadian finance minister Jim Flaherty
Jim Flaherty
James Michael "Jim" Flaherty, PC, MP is Canada's Minister of Finance and he has also served as Ontario's Minister of Finance. From 1995 until 2005, he was the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby—Ajax, and a member of the Progressive Conservative Party caucus...
appointed Someshwar to a 11-member advisory panel along with likes of Mike Lazaridis
Mike Lazaridis
Mihalis "Mike" Lazaridis , OC, O.Ont is a Greek Canadian businessman. He is the founder and co-CEO of Research In Motion , which created and manufactures the BlackBerry wireless handheld device. He is also a former chancellor of the University of Waterloo, and an Officer of the Order of Canada...
, Annette Verschuren
Annette Verschuren
Annette Verschuren, is a Canadian businessperson. She was president of Home Depot Canada from March 1996 to January 2011.A native of North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Verschuren received a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University. Verschuren was appointed chancellor of Cape...
and Geoff Beattie
Geoff Beattie
W. Geoff Beattie is a Canadian business executive. He is currently President of The Woodbridge Company, the Chairman of CTVglobemedia Inc. and Deputy Chairman of Thomson Reuters. He also serves as a director of Royal Bank of Canada as well as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Human...
to advise him on the federal budget and the economy. It was announced that Someshwar, along with the other 10 members were only paid a dollar a year for their insight.
Early Life & Education
Someshwar was born in Bombay (Mumbai). He obtained a degree in Commerce and Economics from the University of Bombay. He is also has a Chartered Accountancy (C.A.) designation from India and England. Prior to starting his businesses in early 1990s, he was vice-president of operations, planning and analysis for CIBC's assurance venture. He moved to Canada from England.Philanthropy
Someshwar is an active fundraiser for hospitals, charities and the arts. In September 2010, Someshwar along with fellow businessmen Vasu ChanchlaniVasu Chanchlani
Vasu Chanchlani is an Indo-Canadian serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and trans-nations builder. He is co-founder of the Sigma Group of Companies and a founding member of the Canada India Foundation. He is also an investor in dozens of companies globally consisting of start-ups and turn-arounds...
and Bhupinder Khalsa donated a Maple-Leaf Shaped Monument to the Canadian Armed Forces for their exemplary service as global peacekeepers. The unveiling ceremony was attended by a large number of Canadian Armed Forces personnel in their ceremonial attire, as well as top leaders including defence minister Peter Mackay
Peter MacKay
Peter Gordon MacKay, PC, QC, MP is a lawyer and politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for Central Nova and currently serves as Minister of National Defence in the Cabinet of Canada....
, opposition leader Michael Ignatieff
Michael Ignatieff
Michael Grant Ignatieff is a Canadian author, academic and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition from 2008 until 2011...
, and finance minister Jim Flaherty
Jim Flaherty
James Michael "Jim" Flaherty, PC, MP is Canada's Minister of Finance and he has also served as Ontario's Minister of Finance. From 1995 until 2005, he was the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby—Ajax, and a member of the Progressive Conservative Party caucus...
.
Public Policy
Someshwar is an active public speaker and participant in various policy forums. He is co-founder and founding National Convenor of the Canada India FoundationCanada India Foundation
The Canada India Foundation also referred to as CIF, is a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007...
and int hat capacity advised governments on both sides on the Canada India Civil Nuclear treaty. He has been very vocal about the importance for the provincial and federal governments to put in a concerted effort on regularizing immigrants’ professional qualifications and experience, making the process of absorbing them into the Canadian system a little less painful.
Appointments & Awards
- Board member, Export Development CanadaExport Development CanadaExport Development Canada is Canada's export credit agency. It is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada, which provides financing and risk management services to Canadian exporters and investors in up to 200 markets worldwide, with spread across all provinces in Canada, and...
- National Convenor, Canada India FoundationCanada India FoundationThe Canada India Foundation also referred to as CIF, is a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007...
- President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (1991–93)
- Member, Canada's Economic Advisory council