The Punjabi Chamber of Commerce is expanding its presence in Ontario with the launch of a new Waterloo Region chapter, marking the organization’s first expansion beyond the Greater Toronto Area.
The Western Ontario chapter will officially be introduced during a launch event in Waterloo on Aug. 13. The move aims to support the region’s growing Punjabi business and professional community.
Harsimran Grewal, president of the chamber’s Canadian operations and Toronto chapter, said the Kitchener-Waterloo area has become a major hub for technology and innovation, with many Punjabi professionals contributing to companies such as Google and Microsoft.
He noted that the Punjabi population in the region has grown significantly over the past decade, with many entrepreneurs and skilled professionals choosing to settle in Waterloo Region.
According to the chamber, approximately 5,000 Punjabi professionals and business owners now live and work across the region. Waterloo Region’s 2024 immigration profile also identified Punjabi as the third most common mother tongue among immigrants.
Grewal said the organization’s goal is to create opportunities for networking, collaboration and professional growth while providing a platform where members of the community can connect and share ideas.
The nonprofit chamber has been operating in Canada for about three years, organizing networking events for entrepreneurs and business leaders. It says more than 25,000 people attended its events over the past year. The organization has also introduced paid memberships and currently hosts monthly events in Toronto and Brampton.
Among those welcoming the expansion is Gurpal Singh, owner of Home Taste Indian Restaurant in Kitchener and Waterloo. Singh said he has witnessed rapid growth in the Punjabi business community since opening his first restaurant in 2018.
He recalled that there were only a handful of Indian restaurants in the region when he first arrived, but the number of businesses has increased considerably in recent years.
Singh added that while his business serves customers from all backgrounds, a dedicated chamber offers Punjabi entrepreneurs an opportunity to strengthen relationships, discuss common challenges and work together on business opportunities.
Grewal emphasized that the new Waterloo chapter is not intended to compete with existing business organizations. Instead, he said the chamber hopes to complement local chambers of commerce by helping members access available resources and services while serving as a bridge between the Punjabi business community and the broader business ecosystem.
He added that the organization views itself as a partner within Canada’s wider business community, stressing that its mission is to support entrepreneurs while contributing to the country’s overall economic growth.
