Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal arrived in Ottawa to lead the largest-ever Indian business delegation to Canada, with leaders from over 100 companies, to revive bilateral economic relations. The three-day visit, covering Ottawa on May 25 and Toronto from May 26 to 27, aims to advance trade and accelerate negotiations for the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The programme includes ministerial meetings, industry roundtables and business-to-business engagements to translate political commitment into commercial partnerships.

He held high-level meetings with senior Canadian leaders and ministers and called on Prime Minister of Canada Mr. Mark Carney, conveying greetings from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Mr Carney described the proposed free trade agreement as a game changer that would open a substantial new market, and both sides directed teams to pursue a balanced, commercially meaningful accord. Officials expressed optimism about an early conclusion and the benefits the pact would deliver to businesses and citizens.

Shri Goyal met Canada’s Minister of International Trade Mr. Maninder Sidhu to review completed negotiation outcomes and identify opportunities to expand trade and investment. Both ministers reiterated a resolve to conclude a balanced and mutually beneficial CEPA by the end of 2026 and instructed negotiating teams to maintain momentum. A first round of virtual talks was held in March 2026, a second round concluded on May eight and a technical round is under way in Ottawa during the visit.

In talks with Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Mr. Heath MacDonald discussions centred on food security, sustainability and agri-technology, with an emphasis on collaboration in the food processing sector to boost incomes of Indian farmers and producers. Shri Goyal also met Canada’s Foreign Minister Ms Anita Anand and highlighted India’s expanding infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital infrastructure and consumer sectors as offering significant opportunities for long-term Canadian investment.

Bilateral trade stands at United States dollar (USD) 8.5 bn and governments target USD 50 bn by 2030. The delegation will proceed to Toronto for roundtables and business-to-business engagements to convert commitments into projects.