TORONTO (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) is making its first move into India by opening a representative office, Canada's largest bank said on Friday.

The new office is in the financial hub of Bandra Kurla, Mumbai, and RBC said it will focus on three business areas: wealth management for individuals, correspondent banking and trade finance services to Indian financial institutions, and capital markets products and services to Indian banks and corporations.

Calling India a "natural choice" for its expansion strategy outside of North America, RBC president and CEO Gordon Nixon said that growth in the Indian economy presents "huge opportunities."

"India is showing an increasing demand for areas in which RBC has competitive strengths," Nixon said in a statement. He said these include infrastructure and project finance; energy, metals and mining; structured products; currency and bond trading; and wealth management.

Immigrants from India and China make up Canada's two largest populations from Asia, RBC noted. The bank upgraded its representative office in Beijing to a branch almost two years ago.

Other Canadian banks are trying to find toeholds in fresh markets as well. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said in November that it will open a representative office in Moscow this year.

(Reporting by Lynne Olver; Editing by Renato Andrade)