Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi will be leading a Calgary delegation on a seven-day, three-city economic mission to India.

The mission is part of an overall strategy by Calgary Economic Development to position Calgary in key Indian markets as the best destination in Canada for tech talent, as a leading centre of digitization of industry to resolve global challenges, as one of the world’s most liveable cities, and, as the one place in Canada where people can truly Live Tech and Love Life, said the organization in a news release.

The mission begins on Saturday in New Delhi and will include Bangalore and Mumbai.

“India will soon be the most populous country in the world. It’s grown in recent years as a destination and trade partner for Calgary’s goods and services, and we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of our economic potential in this market,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi, in a statement.

 “This mission is part of our strategy to develop partnerships that will advance investment interest, attract key tech talent, grow the roster of filmmakers and studios coming to Calgary to take advantage of our landscapes and film centre, and cultivate links between our respective educational institutions.”

The delegation will also include University of Calgary President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ed McCauley and Mount Royal University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tim Rahilly as well as Councillor George Chahal and Calgary Economic Development.

Calgary Economic Development said it partnered with the Confederation of Indian Industry, the premier business association in India, to create the program with more than a hundred events and meetings with senior government officials, educational institutions, and leading Indian companies to better understand the opportunities.

It said the focus will be on information and communication technology (ICT), film and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, education, government relations, trade and talent.

“The University of Calgary has identified India as a high priority country with compelling opportunities to benefit both of our communities through international partnerships and collaboration,” said McCauley. “I look forward to meeting with business, government and educational leaders to gain a deeper understanding of the areas of mutual interest, and to strengthen existing ties with our research and academic collaborators in the region.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for a team of local leaders to tell the Calgary story — a vibrant place to learn, work and live,” said Rahilly. “We are proud of the learning environment MRU offers future international students and the support we can provide to potential investors in our local economy.”