New Delhi: India and Canada have stepped up engagement on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal’s visit to Ottawa.
Goyal called on the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, and conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a series of posts on X, Goyal noted that he “fondly recalled his recent visit to India,” adding that it had “imparted fresh momentum and renewed confidence to the India-Canada partnership.”
He further stated that both sides held forward-looking discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed optimism about the “early conclusion of the CEPA,” which is expected to “unlock new avenues of growth and prosperity for both nations.”
In response, Carney said that Canada is negotiating a free trade agreement with India, calling it a “game changer for Canadian workers and businesses.” He said he and Goyal will review ongoing progress and explore opportunities in energy, agri-food, technology, and education.
Separately, Goyal also held a meeting with Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald. According to his post on X, the discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in agriculture with emphasis on food security, sustainability, agri-tech, and food processing. He said the aim is to boost the incomes of Indian farmers and producers through deeper collaboration.
In another engagement, Goyal held bilateral discussions with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu in Ottawa on advancing CEPA negotiations. He stated that both sides provided “clear guidance” to teams to work toward a balanced, commercially meaningful, and ambitious agreement that delivers tangible benefits to businesses and citizens in both countries.
Sidhu, in his post, said that he and Carney welcomed Goyal as Canada hosted India’s largest-ever business delegation sent to any country. He added that both sides are advancing work toward a CEPA trade agreement and strengthening economic ties aimed at doubling Canada–India trade to USD 70 billion by 2030.
The ongoing discussions highlight renewed momentum in India–Canada economic relations, with CEPA emerging as the central framework for future trade expansion between the two countries.
