NEW DELHI, May 29: India and Canada have launched a new bilateral trade and investment forum aimed at expanding commercial cooperation, enhancing business engagement and accelerating economic partnership between the two countries.
The initiative was announced following Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s three-day visit to Canada from May 25 to 27, during which he held discussions with Canadian political leaders, industry representatives and business groups.
In a joint statement issued after bilateral talks with Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, both countries announced the creation of the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum, which will function as a dedicated platform for promoting business collaboration and encouraging new investment opportunities.
The two sides said the forum is expected to bring together leading business figures from India and Canada to support stronger commercial partnerships and expand bilateral economic activity across multiple sectors.
India and Canada also reiterated their commitment to advancing negotiations on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both governments expressed optimism about concluding the agreement by the end of 2026.
Officials said the proposed trade pact is expected to improve market access, strengthen supply chain resilience and create fresh opportunities for businesses and investors in both countries.
During the meetings, discussions focused on expanding cooperation in strategic sectors including clean energy, critical minerals, agri-food processing, digital technology, advanced manufacturing and skill development.
Canada also welcomed what was described as the largest-ever Indian business delegation to visit the country, reflecting growing interest among Indian companies in exploring opportunities in the Canadian market.
The joint statement underlined the importance of stronger connectivity through improved people-to-people relations, smoother business mobility and enhanced commercial linkages to support long-term economic growth.
Canadian Minister Maninder Sidhu also announced that Canada will lead a Team Canada Trade Mission to India later this year, signalling increased engagement by Canadian businesses seeking partnerships and investments in India.
Both nations further agreed to encourage deeper collaboration among industries, innovators and institutional stakeholders while maintaining regular high-level engagement to achieve concrete economic outcomes in the coming months.