Canada: Piyush Goyal offers prayers at BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto
Toronto, May 27
Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir during his three-day visit to Canada and also participated in a community reception hosted by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
In a post on X Goyal said that he offered prayers for the well-being, peace, and prosperity of all.
He noted how the temple stands as a symbol of spirituality, harmony, service, and shared values and reflects the deep cultural and people-to-people ties that continue to strengthen the India-Canada relationship.
During his visit, he also participated at the community reception hosted by the Consulate General of India in Toronto, Canada, highlighting India's remarkable economic transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He emphasised the immense opportunities emerging across trade, investment, innovation and people-to-people partnerships through the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Praising the diaspora, he noted how it continues to serve as a living bridge between our two nations, contributing meaningfully across business, technology, academia, innovation and community leadership, while proudly upholding India's values and cultural heritage globally.
Earlier, he also paid tributes at the Kanishka Memorial in Toronto, remembering the victims of the Air India Flight 182 and met the family members of the victims.
Highlighting it as one of the most tragic acts of terrorism in aviation history, he underlined that India and Canada are cooperating to ensure that such a tragedy never repeats.
Goyal is in Canada for a three-day official visit from May 25-27, taking place as New Delhi and Ottawa aggressively push ahead with negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), viewed as a vital step in rejuvenating economic relations between the two nations.
During his visit, he met Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney; Foreign Minister, Anita Anand; Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald and Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, among others.
He also met prominent Canadian industry leaders during his three-day visit to Canada to discuss investment avenues and expand bilateral economic partnerships.
The high-level interactions focused heavily on enhancing collaborations in financial services, infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and critical minerals processing.
He noted during his meetings how the talks between them emphasised on the importance of trade, investment and tech linkages for the strategic partnership between the two countries.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While it's good to see diplomatic visits, I wish our politicians would focus more on actual trade outcomes rather than temple visits abroad. The Indian diaspora in Canada is strong, but we need concrete results on CEPA, not just photo-ops.
Respectful visit indeed. The BAPS temple is a beacon of Sanatana Dharma values. Proud to see our ministers acknowledging our cultural heritage while also discussing serious trade matters. Best wishes for the India-Canada partnership!
As someone who lives in Toronto, I appreciate seeing Indian ministers engage with the local community. The Kanishka memorial visit was particularly poignant - it's crucial we never forget the victims and continue efforts for justice. The cultural bridge between our countries is real and growing stronger.
Let's hope these talks lead to better trade terms for Indian farmers and businesses. We need the CEPA to actually benefit the common Indian, not just big corporates. Also, respecting the Kanishka victims shows maturity - terrorism has no borders, and Canada needs to act more on extremism.
Impressive that Minister Goyal is meeting both political leaders and industry captains. The emphasis on critical minerals and sustainable agriculture is wise. India's growth story is real - CEPA can be a win-win if executed properly. Glad to see the diaspora's role being acknowledged.
T We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.