India, Canada launch trade, investment forum to boost business partnerships
New Delhi, May 29
Canada and India have launched the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum as a platform to strengthen business engagement and create new commercial partnerships between companies of both countries, according to a statement by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry during the 2026 Trade and Investment Forum, Canadian Minister Maninder Sidhu and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties to support economic growth and increase commercial opportunities for businesses in India and Canada.
The statement said the forum will serve as "a key platform that brings together Canadian and Indian business leaders and fosters new commercial partnerships and increased business engagement."
Both sides also reiterated their commitment to advancing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and said they aim to conclude the talks by the end of this year. According to the statement, CEPA is important for "expanding market access, supporting resilient supply chains, and enabling two-way economic growth."
The ministers highlighted opportunities for cooperation in sectors including clean energy, critical minerals, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and skills development.
The joint statement also emphasised improving connectivity between the two countries through stronger people-to-people ties, business mobility and direct commercial linkages to support trade and investment growth.
Minister Sidhu also confirmed that Canada will lead a "Team Canada Trade Mission" to India later this year, reflecting growing interest among Canadian businesses in expanding their presence in the Indian market.
Both countries agreed to encourage long-term investments and deepen collaboration between businesses, innovators and institutional partners.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I hope this means more opportunities for Indian students and professionals in Canada. The mention of 'business mobility' and 'people-to-people ties' is encouraging. Let's hope the visa processes also get smoother for genuine students and workers. That would be a real benefit for both countries.
As a Canadian business owner looking to expand, this is very promising. India's market is massive and the focus on digital technologies and advanced manufacturing aligns perfectly with what we do. Looking forward to the Team Canada Trade Mission later this year!
Good to see pragmatism winning over politics. But I really hope our farmers and small businesses are protected in any trade deal. We've seen what happened with other agreements — big corporates benefit, small players suffer. Let's ensure this CEPA is balanced and doesn't flood our markets with subsidized imports.
Great to see India and Canada strengthen ties. The focus on agri-food and clean energy is very relevant — Canada has world-class expertise in sustainable farming and renewable tech. With India's scale and Canada's innovation, we could really do something special together. 🌱💡
I hope this forum is not just another talking shop. We've had so many bilateral forums before but results are mixed. The real test will be how quickly we can finalise the CEPA and whether Canadian companies actually set up manufacturing in India. Make in India needs concrete partnerships, not just MOUs.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.