October 10, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and International Trade Minister Ed Fast today announced the appointment of Canada’s new high commissioner in the Republic of India.
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Nadir Patel as Canada’s new high commissioner in the Republic of India,” said the ministers. “Mr. Patel brings a wealth of experience and will strengthen even further the Canada-India relationship, including on bilateral trade and international security.”
Sustained high-level engagement is a key priority for Canada in the country’s partnership with India. In this spirit, both ministers Baird and Fast will be travelling with a Canadian delegation to India on October 13 and 14, 2014, for bilateral meetings in New Delhi. Minister Fast will continue by leading a trade mission from October 12 to 17 covering three cities: Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh, and will support the Government of Canada’s ambitious pro-trade plan to help Canadian businesses explore new export opportunities.
Mr. Patel will join the ministers on this historic visit.
A biographical note follows.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada
Like us on Facebook: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada-DFATD
Nadir Patel (BA, Wilfrid Laurier University, 1993; MBA, New York University, London School of Economics and Political Science and HEC Paris, 2009) began his career in 1990 at the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, serving in progressively more senior positions in the agency’s offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ottawa and Montréal. From 1997 to 2003, he served as departmental assistant to the minister, director of ministerial services, agency adviser to the minister and secretary to the Board of Management. In 2003, he transferred to the Privy Council Office, serving as chief of staff to the national security advisor to the prime minister, associate secretary to the Cabinet, and deputy minister to the deputy prime minister. From 2005 to 2006, he served as senior policy adviser to the clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet. In 2006, he was appointed by the minister of international trade and the minister of transport as Canada’s chief air negotiator. Mr. Patel served as consul general in Shanghai from 2009 to 2011. Until recently he served as assistant deputy minister for corporate planning, finance and information technology, and as chief financial officer at Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. Mr. Patel succeeds Stewart Beck.
