Goyal to Lead India Business Delegation to Canada for CEPA Talks
India, Canada target balanced trade pact and CAD 70 billion bilateral trade by 2030
- Piyush Goyal to visit Ottawa and Toronto with business delegation
- India-Canada CEPA negotiations to advance during visit
- Bilateral trade target set at CAD 70 billion by 2030
- Focus on AI, clean energy, defence, pharma and critical minerals
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd May: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, will lead a delegation of Indian business leaders to Canada later this month to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.
According to the government, the delegation will hold engagements in Ottawa on May 25 and participate in a two-day programme in Toronto from May 26 to 27.
The visit follows the mandate issued during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India in March 2026 and is aimed at accelerating cooperation in trade, technology, energy and people-to-people ties.
A major focus of the visit will be advancing negotiations for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Officials said the Terms of Reference for the agreement were signed during Carney’s India visit earlier this year.
The first round of CEPA negotiations was conducted virtually in March, while the second round concluded on May 8, 2026.
Another round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Ottawa from May 25 to 29 during Goyal’s visit.
India and Canada are working towards concluding a balanced and mutually beneficial CEPA by the end of 2026.
Both countries have also set a target of expanding bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion, approximately ₹4.65 lakh crore, by 2030.
According to official figures, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at USD 8.5 billion in FY25.
The Indian delegation is expected to engage with Canadian stakeholders across several strategic sectors including artificial intelligence, clean energy, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, aerospace, defence, food processing and agri-technology.
Officials said the sectors were identified due to strong complementarities between India and Canada and growing opportunities for joint investment, research and supply chain partnerships.
The visit is also expected to strengthen economic cooperation amid increasing global focus on resilient supply chains and technology partnerships.
