'Team Canada Trade Mission' to visit India later this year
New Delhi, May 29
India and Canada have reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties, to deliver tangible outcomes that support economic growth and increased commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries, an official statement said on Friday.
Building on the momentum generated through recent ministerial engagement, Canadian Minister Maninder Sidhu welcomed Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and the largest Indian delegation ever sent anywhere in the world, and underscored opportunities to deepen cooperation across complementary sectors such as clean energy, critical minerals, agri‑food, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, and skills development.
Minister Sidhu confirmed that Canada will lead a 'Team Canada Trade Mission' to India later this year, reflecting the strong interest of Canadian businesses in expanding their presence in the Indian market and the shared ambition to deepen commercial partnerships.
"Both Ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing an ambitious and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and affirmed their shared objective of concluding negotiations by the end of this year. They underscored CEPA's importance in expanding market access, supporting resilient supply chains, and enabling two‑way economic growth," according to a Commerce Ministry statement.
They launched the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum as a key platform that brings together Canadian and Indian business leaders and fosters new commercial partnerships and increased business engagement.
According to the government, they also emphasised the importance of enhancing connectivity between India and Canada - including people‑to‑people ties, business mobility, and direct commercial linkages - as essential enablers of expanded trade and investment.
Canada and India agreed to continue encouraging long‑term, high‑quality investment in priority sectors and to support deeper collaboration between businesses, innovators, and institutional partners in both countries.
The ministers committed to maintaining regular dialogue and advancing concrete outcomes in the months ahead, said the statement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see both countries pushing for deeper trade ties. But I hope we also address the visa delays for Indian students and professionals - that's been a major hurdle for people-to-people connections. Business mobility is mentioned, let's see concrete action.
The 'Team Canada Trade Mission' sounds promising. Our agri-food exports to Canada could really benefit, especially with the Punjabi diaspora creating demand. But let's not forget - trade agreements are only as good as their implementation. Past talks have dragged on for years. Hope 2025 brings results!
As a Canadian businessman, this is exciting news. India's market is huge and our maple syrup can finally compete with the local stuff! Jokes aside, the digital technologies sector has massive potential for collaboration. Let's make this trade mission count.
Wait, didn't we have some diplomatic tensions with Canada recently over some political issues? Now suddenly they're sending a trade mission? India is being pragmatic - business is business. But I hope our government ensures that any CEPA protects our farmers and small businesses, not just big corporations.
It's refreshing to see mature diplomacy at work. The Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum could be a game-changer for startups in both countries. We need more platforms where innovators can connect directly. Let's hope this isn't just another photo-op.
K