The South Asian Market is one of the fastest growing communities within Canada and specifically the Greater Metro Toronto Area (GTA) and surrounding areas. It is estimated that over 45,000 immigrants of South Asian origin arrive in Canada annually and an estimated 65% of these immigrants settle within the GTA and Ontario. The South Asian population is estimated to be in excess of 600,000 within the GTA and has grown by over 40% since the 1996 census.

In the early 1990's, a group of South Asian employees undertook an initiative to raise the profile of the South Asian community within RBC. This evolved into RBC Financial Group, a leading financial institution, becoming one of the first organizations from corporate Canada to recognize the potential that this community offers. RBC's involvement with the South Asian Community began with the sponsorship of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce in the early 1990's. This sponsorship is now in its twelfth year and has lead to RBC Financial Group's sponsorship of over twenty-five other South Asian initiatives. Some of these are:

Business & Professional Organizations
Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce
EIPROC
The Indus Entrepreneurs
Canadian Tamils Chamber of Commerce
Canada Pakistan Business Council

Arts & Culture
Royal Ontario Museum - Permanent South Asian Exhibit
Panorama India -Annual Festival

Youth & Community
The Centennial Foundation
Ismaili 10 K run for Charity
Heart & Stroke Foundation - South Asian Community Council.
Goan Overseas Association

In addition to the financial support provided to these initiatives many of our staff volunteer on the boards and committees of a number of these organizations.

Shafiq Ebrahim, Director - South Asian Markets, is a Cabinet & Board member of the United Way of Greater Toronto.

Gurbax Ravi, Senior Account Manager, Small & Medium Enterprises, Mississauga Markets, has been active with the Centennial Foundation since 1999.

Kiran Kashyap, Account Manager Personal Financial Services at 2786 Victoria Park Ave, North York branch is a committed volunteer with AWIC.

Mohan Sundaramohan, Account Manager, Personal Financial Services is a Vice President of the Canadian Tamils Chamber of Commerce.

Chitwant Kohli, Vice President - Corporate Resources Finance, is an advisory board member of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce.

And the list goes on...

RBC Royal Bank has many South Asian staff at various branches and business banking centres across the Greater Toronto Area and in other parts of Canada to serve the needs of our South Asian customers. Many of our staff speak multiple South Asian languages too. We have also developed and printed brochures in Tamil and Punjabi on banking related topics such as RRSPs, RESPs, Home Mortgages etc.

We are excited to continue this leadership position by bringing to you a "Financial Channel" on MyBindi.com. We remain committed to serving the South Asian community and want to help you make the right choice by offering sound advice and counsel so that your financial future that much better.

For more information on RBC Financial Group's South Asian initiatives please contact:

Shafiq Ebrahim
Director, South Asian Markets
RBC Royal Bank
e-mail: shafiq.ebrahim@rbc.com