Ø Union Minister of Commerce and
Industry Piyush Goyal Leads Largest-Ever Indian Business Delegation to Canada
to Boost CEPA Talks and Revive Bilateral Economic Ties
Ø India, Canada Reaffirm Commitment to
Conclude Balanced CEPA by End of 2026 During Talks Between Mr. Piyush Goyal and
Canada’s Minister of International Trade
Ø Piyush Goyal Holds Talks with
Canadian Agriculture Minister Mr. Heath MacDonald to Deepen Bilateral
Cooperation in Food Security and Agri-Tech
Ø Piyush Goyal, Canadian Foreign
Minister Ms. Anita Anand Discuss Strengthening India-Canada Strategic and
Economic Partnership
·
Piyush Goyal visited Canada leading the largest-ever Indian business
delegation to Canada, comprising representatives from over 100 companies.
·
The three-day visit aims to strengthen bilateral trade and accelerate
negotiations for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA).
·
Mark Carney described the proposed India-Canada CEPA as a “game changer”
that could unlock major market opportunities.
·
Mr. Goyal conveyed greetings from Narendra Modi and discussed expanding
cooperation across trade, investment, technology, agriculture, and strategic
sectors.
·
India and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to conclude a balanced and
commercially meaningful CEPA by the end of 2026.
·
Mr. Goyal held talks with Maninder Sidhu to review negotiation progress
and explore opportunities for increased trade and investment flows.
·
Discussions with Heath MacDonald focused on:
o Food security
o Sustainability
o Agri-technology cooperation
o Food processing collaboration
aimed at improving farmer incomes and agricultural integration.
·
Mr. Goyal also met Anita Anand to discuss strengthening the India-Canada
strategic and economic partnership.
·
India highlighted opportunities for Canadian investment in:
o Infrastructure
o Renewable energy
o Logistics
o Digital infrastructure
o Consumer markets.
·
The Minister praised the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening
economic and cultural ties between both countries.
·
From 26–27 May, the Indian delegation will participate in industry
roundtables and B2B engagements in Toronto.
·
CEPA negotiations timeline:
o Terms of Reference signed in March
2025
o First virtual negotiation round held
in March 2026
o Second round concluded on 8 May 2026
o Technical negotiations underway in
Ottawa from 25–29 May 2026.
·
The delegation includes business leaders from sectors such as:
o Energy
o Mining
o Automobiles
o Pharmaceuticals
o Telecommunications
o Artificial Intelligence
o Leather
o Textiles.
·
India and Canada aim to increase bilateral trade from about USD 8.5
billion to USD 50 billion by 2030.
[ABS News Service/26.05.2026]
Union Minister of Commerce and
Industry Piyush Goyal arrived in Ottawa, Canada, heading the largest-ever
Indian business delegation to Canada comprising industry leaders from over 100
companies, in a landmark step towards the full revival of India-Canada economic
relations. The three-day visit to Cananda, covering Ottawa on May 25 and
Toronto from May 26–27, is aimed at advancing bilateral trade and economic ties
between India and Canada, with a particular focus on accelerating the ongoing
negotiations for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA).
During the Day 1 visit in Ottawa, Mr.
Goyal held a series of high-level meetings with senior Canadian leaders and
Ministers to deepen bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, technology,
agriculture, and strategic sectors.
Calling on Prime Minister of Canada
Mr. Mark Carney, Mr. Goyal conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Mr. Narendra
Modi. The Minister fondly recalled Prime Minister Carney’s recent visit to
India, which imparted fresh momentum and renewed confidence to the India-Canada
partnership. Both sides held forward-looking discussions on further deepening
bilateral cooperation across multiple domains and expressed optimism towards
the early conclusion of the India-Canada CEPA.
Prime Minister Carney affirmed that
the proposed free trade agreement with India would be a game changer, unlocking
a massive new market. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a balanced,
commercially meaningful and ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement and directed their respective teams to work towards an agreement that
strengthens economic partnerships and delivers tangible benefits to businesses
and citizens of both nations.
Mr. Goyal also held constructive
bilateral discussions with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Mr.
Maninder Sidhu on advancing the India-Canada CEPA negotiations. The two
Ministers reviewed the outcomes of negotiations completed to date and
identified future opportunities to expand trade and investment flows. Both
sides reaffirmed their resolve to conclude a balanced and mutually beneficial
agreement by the end of 2026.
The envisaged CEPA is expected to
strengthen economic partnerships and deliver tangible benefits to businesses
and citizens of both countries, deepening the bilateral economic relationship
to its fullest potential.
In a productive meeting with Canada’s
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Mr. Heath MacDonald, discussions centred
on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, with a focus on food
security, sustainability, and agri-technology. Both
sides explored meaningful opportunities for collaboration in the food
processing sector. It was highlighted that such cooperation would play an
important role in boosting the incomes of Indian farmers and producers, while
contributing to greater agricultural integration between the two countries.
Mr. Goyal also held wide-ranging
talks with Canada’s Foreign Minister Ms. Anita Anand and emphasised the
importance of trade, investment, and technology linkages for the India-Canada
Strategic Partnership. The Minister highlighted India’s expanding infrastructure,
renewable energy, logistics, digital infrastructure, and consumer sectors as
offering significant opportunities for greater collaboration and long-term
Canadian investments. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening
the bilateral partnership across economic and strategic dimensions.
Mr. Goyal concluded a productive Day
1 in Ottawa with a warm interaction at a reception hosted by his counterpart,
Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mr. Maninder Sidhu. Speaking at the
reception, the Hon'ble Minister spoke about India's remarkable growth journey —
driven by the aspirations of its people, a thriving entrepreneurial spirit, a
vast and skilled talent pool, and expanding market opportunities. Mr. Goyal
also underscored the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora in
deepening economic, cultural, and people-to-people relations between the two
nations.
From May 26–27, Mr. Goyal will lead the
delegation through an intensive programme of industry roundtables and B2B
engagements in Toronto, aimed at translating ministerial-level commitment into
concrete commercial partnerships across priority sectors.
The visit carries forward the mandate
set by Prime Ministers Mr. Narendra Modi and Mr. Mark Carney during Prime
Minister Carney’s New Delhi visit in March 2026 and builds on sustained
high-level engagement between the two countries since mid-2025.
CEPA negotiations have moved swiftly
since the Terms of Reference were signed in March 2025. A first round of
virtual talks was held in March 2026, followed by a second round that concluded
on May 8, 2026. A concurrent round of technical negotiations is underway in
Ottawa from May 25–29, running in parallel with Minister Goyal’s visit,
signalling the seriousness and pace both sides are bringing to the process.
The delegation of over 100 industry
leaders, drawn from sectors including energy, mining, automotive goods,
pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, leather, and
textiles, reflects the breadth of opportunity both sides are seeking to unlock.
With bilateral trade currently
standing at approximately USD 8.5 billion, both governments have set an
ambitious shared target of expanding this to USD 50 billion by 2030.