India has been the second fastest growing economy in the world, after China, for the last 10 years and is predicted to become one of the world's largest economies by 2040.

Marc Cevey, CEO, HSBC Investment Funds (Canada) Inc, said: "High growth emerging markets offer exciting investment possibilities. In India, unlike many other emerging economies, personal consumption makes up a large proportion of GDP, and exports today account for only 15 per cent of the economy.

"So India is well positioned to generate homegrown economic growth and less dependent on other economies," Cevey commented.

"India's economic development lags China's by approximately 15 years. We think it is an opportune time for Canadian investors to consider investment in India with above average GDP growth forecast to continue over the next 10-15 years."

The Fund follows a disciplined investment philosophy targeting long-term capital appreciation using a diversified equity portfolio.

The Asia-based portfolio management team will target key sectors and companies that it believes will benefit from India's rapid economic expansion.

With the addition of this fund to complement the popular HSBC Chinese Equity Fund, HSBC Bric Equity Fund and HSBC Emerging Markets Fund, HSBC Investment Funds (Canada) Inc now has one of the broadest line-ups of emerging markets funds in the country.

Globally, the HSBC Group's investment businesses manage over US$27.1 billion in emerging market assets as at end-August 2009.