**Executive Summary**
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal will visit Canada from May 25–27, 2026, to advance negotiations for the India–Canada Comprehensive Economic & Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Accompanied by a delegation of over 100 Indian businesses, the visit aims to strengthen strategic cooperation in priority sectors and fast-track trade discussions. Both nations have envisioned increasing bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by the year 2030.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Trade and Economic Negotiations**
* **CEPA Progress:** The visit focuses on advancing the Comprehensive Economic & Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the second round of negotiations currently being fast-tracked.
* **Trade Targets:** Officials aim to grow bilateral trade from the FY2025–26 level of approximately USD 8 billion to USD 50 billion by 2030.
* **Business Participation:** Representatives from sectors including metals, mining, energy, automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture are participating in the visit to explore investment opportunities.
**Energy and Technology Cooperation**
* **Energy Security:** Discussions will leverage Canada’s natural resource base to meet India’s expanding energy requirements, focusing on energy transition.
* **Civil Nuclear Partnership:** Civil nuclear cooperation remains a primary cornerstone of the bilateral energy relationship.
* **Innovation and AI:** There is a specific focus on deepening collaboration in AI research, innovation ecosystems, and the establishment of shared standards.
**Strategic and Diplomatic Engagement**
* **High-Level Meetings:** Minister Goyal will meet with the Canadian Prime Minister, the Minister of International Trade, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to renew political and economic ties.
* **Corporate Interaction:** Planned engagements include meetings with CEOs of major Canadian companies, startups, and pension funds.
* **Diaspora Relations:** The visit acknowledges the 2.8 million-strong Indian diaspora in Canada as a "living bridge" facilitating bilateral relations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Business Delegation**
**Impact**
Representatives from over 100 businesses gain direct access to Canadian markets, startups, and pension funds to explore trade and investment.
**Action Required**
Participate in official business and industry interactions scheduled between May 25 and May 27.
**Government Negotiators (India and Canada)**
**Impact**
Negotiators are tasked with maintaining the momentum of the CEPA talks following the second round of negotiations held in early May 2026.
**Action Required**
Work toward fast-tracking the CEPA agreement and developing frameworks to achieve the USD 50 billion trade target by 2030.
**Energy and Tech Sectors**
**Impact**
These sectors are identified as priority areas for strategic cooperation, particularly regarding energy transition and AI research.
**Action Required**
Identify specific opportunities for institutional engagement and collaborative research in innovation ecosystems.
**Canadian Pension Funds and CEOs**
**Impact**
These stakeholders are targeted as key partners for investment in Indian sectors and capital goods.
**Action Required**
Engage in bilateral meetings with the Union Minister to explore strategic cooperation and investment opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
India–Canada Comprehensive Economic & Partnership Agreement (CEPA): A bilateral trade agreement under negotiation aimed at increasing trade to USD 50 billion by 2030 and enhancing strategic cooperation.
Piyush Goyal: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry of India leading the delegation to Canada for high-level negotiations and business interactions.
Mark Carney: Prime Minister of Canada, whose engagement with Indian officials is central to restoring momentum in the bilateral relationship.
Canada: The partner nation and location for the high-level talks, central to the strategic, energy, and economic engagement described.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri
Piyush Goyal to Visit Canada for High-Level
Business Interactions and India–Canada CEPA
Talks
Posted On: 23 MAY 2026 7:45PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal will visit Canada from May 25-27 to
advance the ongoing negotiations of the Comprehensive Economic & Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
between India and Canada and hold official, business & industry interactions. Senior representatives from
over 100 Indian businesses are accompanying Shri Goyal from sectors like metals & mining, energy,
automotive & capital goods, aerospace, tourism, leather & textiles, agriculture, telecom & pharmaceuticals
among others.
During his visit, Shri Goyal will meet H.E. Mr. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, and
review the progress of India-Canada CEPA, and explore new opportunities for trade & investments. In
FY2025-26, the bilateral trade between both countries was around USD 8 billion, out of which India’s
exports were USD 4.67 billion and India’s imports were USD 3.28 billion.
The Minister will call on the Prime Minister of Canada, H.E. Mr. Mark Carney, and hold a series of
bilateral meetings including with H.E. Ms. Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to strengthen
strategic cooperation across priority sectors. HCIM will also interact with CEOs of leading Canadian
companies, startups, and pension funds.
Energy security and energy transition are defining priorities for both our nations. Canada’s vast energy and
natural resource base, and India’s expanding energy requirements, create strong complementarities.
Further, the civil nuclear cooperation between India and Canada remains a cornerstone of the energy
partnership.
Science and technology cooperation have a strong foundation, supported by regular institutional
engagement. There is substantial scope for deeper India–Canada collaboration in AI research, standards,
and innovation ecosystems.
The sustained high-level engagement between India and Canada since mid-2025, including the recent visit
of Prime Minister Carney to India on March 2, 2026, has contributed significantly towards restoring
momentum in the bilateral relationship & people-to-people ties. The negotiations of the India-Canada
CEPA were also launched during this visit.
An official delegation from Canada visited New Delhi from 4-7 May 2026 to conduct the second round of
negotiations of the India-Canada CEPA. HCIM would be accompanied by officials for continuing the
second round of negotiations for the India-Canada CEPA. Both countries are committed to fast-tracking
the negotiations. Both sides have envisioned increasing the bilateral trade between India and Canada to
USD 50 billion by 2030.Canada has a large 2.8 million Indian Diaspora (1.8 million Indo-Canadians and about 1 million NRIs
including students) who are a living bridge between the two nations. India takes great pride in its diaspora
and their achievements in Canada.
India and Canada have resumed structured engagement through strategic and security channels alongside
the broader political and economic renewal in bilateral relations. The visit is expected to explore
cooperation across key sectors of mutual importance, strengthen the mutual trust, and impart greater
momentum to a partnership that has the potential to expand exponentially.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2264617) Visitor Counter : 728
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