I would say prayers for the well being of people at large. I would say prayers for the health of the people and prayers for the good of the country. I have to have all those things in mind. I am happy to say I know how to make good shoes that fit the people there.

Would you say poverty is still a big problem for India?

Of course, there are such problems. But every day, the situation is improving. Education is bringing new inventions in India. Also in the agricultural sphere, India is making enormous progress. Let us not forget India is still an agrarian economy.

The disparity in the country is there, but it is rapidly disappearing. The number of poor people is declining.

What is your advice to Canadian business people?

I think Indo-Canadians travel quite a bit for trade; Canadians don't travel as much.

They are not so used to traveling, but their thinking is changing. There's no way Canadians will be doing business with India without paying attention to it, paying attention to the human relationship.

Why do you say Canadian business people don't travel?

They travel to the United States, where they have enormous opportunities. And why should they not make use of it? India also has to create more opportunities. Then, people will come.

Don't they realize they continue to place all their eggs in one economic basket and any downturn of the US economy could create serious problems for Canada?

I think Canadian business people are opening their eyes to the world much more than they used to do earlier.