A delegation from India, hailed by the Canadian government as the largest ever, is set to arrive this week for a three-day visit focused on trade and investment discussions. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will be leading a group of over 100 senior business representatives from various sectors, including mining, energy, automotive, and aerospace. This visit will take place from Monday to Wednesday and aims to strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
As outlined in a release from the Indian ministry, Minister Goyal is scheduled to meet with Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, to further advance negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both countries are deeply committed to accelerating these discussions, exploring new opportunities for collaboration.
During his visit, Goyal also plans to engage with key Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. Additionally, he will be meeting with CEOs from leading companies, startups, and pension funds, emphasizing the importance of fostering relationships within the business community.
According to Global Affairs Canada, Sidhu is expected to meet with Goyal on Monday morning in Ottawa. In a post shared by Canada Trade, Goyal described the delegation as "the largest-ever business delegation to go from India to any country," highlighting the significance of this visit.
Both Canada and India have expressed aspirations to double their trade, targeting a volume of $70 billion by the year 2030. Sidhu noted that although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be accompanying the delegation, discussions about energy security and transition remain pivotal to the bilateral relationship. These topics were also at the forefront of discussions during Prime Minister Carney's visit to Mumbai and New Delhi in March.
During Carney's previous trip, a series of agreements were signed, including a strategic energy partnership and a notable $2.6 billion deal to supply approximately 22 million pounds of uranium to India for nuclear energy generation. Furthermore, 10 commercial agreements worth more than $5.5 billion were established. Carney emphasized that these initiatives are not only a renewal of the relationship but an expansion of a valued partnership with new ambition and focus.
In May, a Canadian delegation traveled to New Delhi to participate in a second round of negotiations concerning the Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement, as stated in the release from the Indian government. The two countries have been engaged in trade discussions since 2010, although they faced setbacks in 2023 when Ottawa paused talks, accusing New Delhi of being involved in the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist in Surrey, British Columbia.
However, Prime Minister Carney made it a priority to reset relations following his election in 2025, indicating a desire for a more constructive and collaborative approach moving forward. The upcoming delegation visit symbolizes a critical step towards reinstating and strengthening the economic partnership between Canada and India, bringing renewed hope for prosperity in both nations.
