Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu has reinforced his country’s ambition to serve as a “trusted and reliable long-term economic partner” for India, as both countries continue efforts to expand commercial engagement and advance negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Sidhu’s remarks came as Canada prepares to send its largest-ever trade mission to India, bringing together nearly 300 business representatives from a range of sectors. Sidhu made the comments after meeting India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ gathering in Milwaukee on Thursday.

The meeting was followed by a statement issued on Friday by Global Affairs Canada, the country’s foreign ministry. The discussions come against the backdrop of efforts by New Delhi and Ottawa to strengthen economic ties and create greater opportunities for businesses in both countries. Trade and investment have emerged as important areas of engagement as the two sides work towards expanding their bilateral economic relationship. In the statement, Sidhu emphasised Canada’s role as a long-term economic partner for India. He also pointed to the scale of the upcoming Canadian business delegation, which he will lead during a Team Canada Trade Mission to India from October 12 to 16.

The mission is expected to bring close to 300 Canadian delegates, representing businesses from key sectors. According to the Canadian government, participants will travel to India to establish business connections, identify potential customers and explore new commercial opportunities in a market it describes as one of the world’s fastest-growing. The planned delegation is set to become Canada’s largest-ever trade mission to India, highlighting the importance Ottawa is placing on expanding commercial ties with New Delhi. The scale is comparable to the Team Canada trade mission that Sidhu led to Japan in June this year. The India mission was announced in July and is being organised with the participation of business and trade organisations.

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The delegation is expected to provide Canadian companies with opportunities to engage directly with Indian businesses and explore areas where greater trade and investment could be developed. The Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) is playing an integral role in the upcoming mission. Its President and CEO Victor Thomas said the initiative reflected the strength and potential of the relationship between the two countries. Thomas said there remained considerable room for growth in bilateral trade and investment, arguing that the two countries had only begun to explore the opportunities available to them. He described the October trade mission as the beginning of a broader effort to build stronger commercial links between Canadian and Indian businesses.

The trade mission is taking place while India and Canada continue work on their proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA. Such an agreement is intended to provide a framework for expanding economic engagement and improving opportunities for businesses operating across the two markets. The negotiations are part of wider efforts to strengthen bilateral economic relations after periods of strain in the broader relationship. The renewed focus on trade places businesses and investment opportunities at the centre of the current engagement, with both sides seeking greater economic cooperation.

For Canada, the upcoming mission provides an opportunity to showcase Canadian companies and capabilities directly to Indian businesses while encouraging new commercial partnerships. For Indian businesses, the delegation could provide access to Canadian companies across multiple sectors and create opportunities for trade and investment discussions. The participation of nearly 300 delegates also indicates the scale of interest Ottawa hopes to generate among Canadian businesses in India. Sidhu’s meeting with Goyal and his subsequent comments further underline the importance Canada attaches to its economic relationship with India.

The planned October visit therefore comes at a significant stage in the countries’ efforts to deepen economic cooperation. While the CEPA negotiations remain an important part of the bilateral trade agenda, the trade mission is focused on immediate business-to-business engagement and identifying new opportunities. By presenting Canada as a reliable long-term economic partner and bringing a large business delegation to India, Sidhu is seeking to strengthen the commercial foundation of the relationship. The October 12-16 mission is expected to bring Canadian companies together with Indian counterparts as both countries look to expand trade and investment ties.

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