India, Canada Move to Turn Trade Talks Into Business Deals
OTTAWA, Ontario — Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a major Indian business delegation through industry roundtables and business-to-business meetings in Toronto from May 26 to 27, as India and Canada seek to convert renewed trade engagement into commercial partnerships.
The Toronto program follows high-level talks in Ottawa and is aimed at advancing cooperation in priority sectors, the Indian government said Tuesday.
The visit builds on the mandate set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during Carney’s visit to New Delhi in March 2026, as well as continued high-level engagement between the two countries since mid-2025.
Bilateral trade between India and Canada currently stands at about $8.5 billion. The two governments have set a target of increasing that figure to $50 billion by 2030.
Goyal arrived in Ottawa leading what India’s Commerce Ministry described as the largest-ever Indian business delegation to Canada, with industry leaders from more than 100 companies. The ministry called the visit a major step toward the full revival of India-Canada economic relations.
The three-day visit is focused on advancing bilateral trade and economic ties, with particular emphasis on accelerating negotiations for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA.
In Ottawa, Goyal met with senior Canadian leaders and ministers to discuss cooperation in trade, investment, technology, agriculture and strategic sectors.
During a meeting with Carney, Goyal conveyed greetings from Modi. The two sides discussed ways to deepen cooperation across several areas and expressed optimism about an early conclusion of the CEPA talks.
Carney said the proposed free trade agreement with India would be a game changer, opening access to a major new market.
Goyal also held bilateral talks with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu on advancing CEPA negotiations. The agreement is expected to strengthen economic ties and deliver benefits for businesses and consumers in both countries.
In a separate meeting with Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in agriculture, including food security, sustainability and agricultural technology.
Goyal also met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and emphasized the importance of trade, investment and technology links in the India-Canada strategic partnership.
He pointed to India’s expanding infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital infrastructure and consumer sectors as areas offering significant opportunities for long-term Canadian investment and broader collaboration. (Source: IANS)
