India and Canada are looking to fast-track negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal set to visit Canada from 25 to 27 May for high-level official, business and industry interactions, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Saturday, 23 May.
Goyal will meet Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, to review the progress of the India-Canada CEPA and explore new opportunities for trade and investment.
The visit comes as both countries seek to rebuild momentum in economic engagement after renewed high-level contact since mid-2025.
According to the Ministry, sustained high-level engagement between the two countries since mid-2025 has contributed to restoring momentum in bilateral relations and people-to-people ties.
The Ministry said both sides are committed to fast-tracking the CEPA negotiations and have envisioned increasing bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.
Goyal will be accompanied by officials for continuing the second round of negotiations during his Canada visit.
The CEPA negotiations were launched during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India on 2 March 2026.
An official delegation from Canada visited New Delhi from 4 to 7 May 2026 for the second round of CEPA negotiations.
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During the visit, Goyal will call on Canadian Prime Minister Carney and hold bilateral meetings, including with Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to strengthen strategic cooperation across priority sectors.
Senior representatives from more than 100 Indian businesses will accompany Goyal.
These businesses represent sectors including metals and mining, energy, automotive and capital goods, aerospace, tourism, leather and textiles, agriculture, telecom and pharmaceuticals.
In FY2025-26, bilateral trade between India and Canada stood at around $8 billion.
India’s exports accounted for $4.67 billion, while India’s imports stood at $3.28 billion.
The Ministry said energy security and energy transition are defining priorities for both countries.
Canada’s vast energy and natural resource base and India’s growing energy requirements create strong complementarities, while civil nuclear cooperation remains a cornerstone of the energy partnership.
Science and technology cooperation is another area of focus.
The Ministry said there is substantial scope for deeper India-Canada collaboration in AI research, standards and innovation ecosystems.
Goyal will also interact with CEOs of leading Canadian companies, startups and pension funds as part of efforts to deepen commercial engagement and investment ties.
Canada has a 2.8 million-strong Indian diaspora, including 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and about 1 million NRIs, including students.
The Ministry described the diaspora as a living bridge between the two nations.
India and Canada have also resumed structured engagement through strategic and security channels alongside broader political and economic renewal in bilateral relations.
The Ministry said the visit is expected to explore cooperation across key sectors of mutual importance, strengthen mutual trust and give greater momentum to a partnership with the potential to expand significantly.
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