India-Canada aim to conclude CEPA by year-end; triple trade by 2030: PiyushGoyal

Speaking to the press with Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, PiyushGoyal highlighted the steps taken from both sides to rejuvenate the relationship, mentioning Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India in February 2026, which he said set in “motion the pathway of this relationship.”

Underlining the objectives, Goyal said that India not only aims to conclude the trade agreement by the end of this year but also wants to triple the trade between the two countries by 2030…“Our PMs (Indian PM Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney) have tasked us with not only completing the free trade agreement with a comprehensive outlook before the end of this year or earlier but tripling our trade from a current USD 17 million to USD 50 million by 2030,” he added.

Shri Goyal said that he has arrived in Ottawa with the largest Indian business delegation in the country’s history, showcasing India’s commitment towards the relationship. He also expressed confidence in the leadership of Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, to drive rapid progress in the relationship…This is a relationship that’ll be very important in the years to come. I have full confidence that under Maninder’s leadership, we will make rapid progress,” he said.

The Union Minister’s arrival in Ottawa commences a three-day official visit from 25 to 27 May, taking place as New Delhi and Ottawa aggressively push ahead with negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), viewed as a vital step in rejuvenating economic relations between the two nations.

Accompanied by a high-powered business delegation comprising senior executives from over 100 prominent Indian enterprises, Goyal’s visit spans a diverse array of sectors, including energy, metals and mining, aerospace, telecom, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism, textiles, automotive and capital goods.

Expanding the scope of the high-level political engagement, the Union Minister is also expected to call on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and hold extensive deliberations with Foreign Minister Anita Anand, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across strategic and high-growth sectors. Beyond his strictly governmental engagements, Goyal will interact with Chief Executive Officers of major Canadian corporations, prominent start-up founders and top executives from leading pension funds.      The energy sector is anticipated to take centre stage during these interactions. Officials have pointed out that India’s surging energy requirements, coupled with Canada’s vast natural resource wealth, position the two nations as natural partners across the entire energy spectrum, ranging from traditional hydrocarbons to clean energy transition initiatives.      Furthermore, civil nuclear cooperation is expected to endure as a foundational pillar of the bilateral matrix. Both nations are also aiming to scale up collaboration in science and technology, with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence research, standardisation and fostering innovation ecosystems.      This high-profile visit takes place against the backdrop of a broader thaw in India-Canada relations following a phase of diplomatic strain. Since the middle of 2025, both capitals have actively revived high-level communication across political, economic, strategic and security frameworks. Notably, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India on March 2 this year served as a catalyst to restart momentum in the relationship, which also witnessed the formal launch of the CEPA negotiations. (ANI)