Canada sends biggest trade mission to India in 30 years amid CEPA push

Canada will send nearly 300 business delegates to Mumbai and Bengaluru next week to deepen trade ties with India. The mission underlines Ottawa's push to conclude CEPA talks and sharply raise bilateral trade by 2030.

In Short

• Trade minister Maninder Sidhu will lead meetings in Mumbai and Bengaluru
• The visit supports renewed efforts to finish CEPA negotiations this year
• Canada plans to link its sectoral strengths with India's rising demand

Canada will send nearly 300 business delegates to India next week in its biggest trade mission to the country in more than 30 years, as it looks to expand commercial ties and "more than double bilateral trade" by 2030.

The delegation, led by Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, will visit Mumbai and Bengaluru from October 12 to 17, according to an official statement issued on Friday. The visit comes as India and Canada work to conclude negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of this year.

Sidhu said, "By matching Canadian expertise in sectors like aerospace, agri-food and clean technology with India's growing demand, we will diversify our trade and attract new investment." According to the statement, the mission is aimed at helping Canadian businesses connect with Indian decision-makers, industry leaders and potential customers, while building partnerships expected to generate employment in Canada.

The fifth round of CEPA negotiations was held in Ottawa from October 5 to 9. Sidhu had also met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee in the US on October 1, where they discussed progress in the talks and efforts to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties. India and Canada had announced a renewed push for a comprehensive trade agreement during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India in March, setting a target of raising two-way trade to CAD 70 billion, or about Rs 4.75 lakh crore, by 2030.

In 2025, bilateral trade in goods and services totalled CAD 30.4 billion, according to Canadian government data. Canada's merchandise exports to India stood at CAD 3.9 billion, led by vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, and wood pulp. Its merchandise imports from India were CAD 9.7 billion, mainly precious stones and metals, machinery and pharmaceutical products. The statement said Canada is also looking to diversify its exports beyond the United States, with India a key part of that strategy. It added that the Canadian Indo-Pacific Strategy, launched in 2022, identifies trade, security, sustainability, people-to-people ties and regional engagement as its five strategic objectives.

Overall, the upcoming mission underlines Canada's effort to deepen trade and investment ties with India, support progress on the CEPA talks and push towards the 2030 target for bilateral trade.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends