Indian Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda has been selected for the first Global Indian Award for bringing the telecom revolution in the country.

Former president A P J Abdul Kalam, who will be in Toronto from April 17 to 19, will confer the award that carries $50,000 in cash and a trophy on April 18, Canada-India Foundation Convener Ajit Someshwar told reporters on Wednesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier David McGuinty were likely to be present on the occasion, he said, adding that the CIF co-founder and local Indo-Canadian businessman Vasudev Chanchlani has sponsored the award and pledged $1 million to create a fund for it.

The award by CIF would be presented annually to "an outstanding Indian who has demonstrated global leadership, vision and personal excellence, which has made all of us of Indian origin extremely proud of our heritage", Someshwar said.

The CIF, a not-for-profit incorporation, was committed to promote bilateral relations between the two democracies and securing the interests of the dynamic Indo-Canadian community, Someshwar said.