Canada will send nearly 300 business delegates to India from October 12 to 17 in its largest trade mission to the country in more than 30 years, as Ottawa seeks to expand commercial ties and more than double bilateral trade by 2030.
Led by Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, the delegation will visit Mumbai and Bengaluru, according to an official statement issued on Friday. The mission comes as India and Canada work towards concluding negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of this year.
“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,” Sidhu said.
The mission aims to connect Canadian businesses with Indian decision-makers, industry leaders and potential customers, while building partnerships expected to generate employment in Canada, the statement said.
India-Canada Trade Deal Talks Gather Pace
The fifth round of CEPA negotiations was held in Ottawa from October 5 to 9. Sidhu also met India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, US, on October 1. They discussed progress in the negotiations and ways to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties.
India and Canada renewed their push for a comprehensive trade agreement during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India in March. The two countries set a target of increasing bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030.
Bilateral Trade Stood At CAD 30.4 Billion In 2025
Trade in goods and services between India and Canada totalled CAD 30.4 billion in 2025, 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 amounted to CAD 9.7 billion, comprising mainly precious stones and metals, machinery and pharmaceutical products.
Canada Seeks To Diversify Export Markets
Canada is seeking to diversify its exports beyond the United States, with India forming a key part of its strategy to expand trade with other markets, according to the statement.
The Canadian Indo-Pacific Strategy, launched in 2022, identifies trade, security, sustainability, people-to-people ties and regional engagement as its five strategic objectives.
The trade mission will give Canadian businesses an opportunity to explore partnerships in India as negotiations on the proposed CEPA continue.
(With PTI inputs)
