New Delhi : Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Canada from May 25 to 27 as India and Canada move forward with negotiations on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a key initiative aimed at reviving and strengthening bilateral economic ties.
The minister will be accompanied by senior representatives from over 100 Indian companies across sectors including energy, steel and mining, aerospace, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism, textiles, automotive, and capital goods.
During the visit, Goyal is scheduled to meet Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to review the progress of CEPA negotiations and explore avenues for expanding trade and investment between the two countries. He is also expected to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Minister Anita Anand as part of broader diplomatic engagements.
In addition to official meetings, the minister will interact with CEOs of leading Canadian companies, startup founders, and representatives of pension funds.
Energy cooperation is expected to be a key focus area, with officials noting that India’s rising energy demand and Canada’s vast natural resource base create strong complementarities. Collaboration is likely to be discussed across conventional energy, clean energy transition, and civil nuclear cooperation.
Science and technology is another important pillar of the discussions, with both sides looking to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence research, standards development, and innovation ecosystems.
The visit comes at a time when India–Canada relations are witnessing a gradual thaw after a period of strain. Since mid-2025, both countries have resumed high-level engagement across political, economic, strategic, and security domains. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India on March 2 helped restore momentum and formally launched CEPA negotiations.
Earlier this month, a Canadian delegation visited New Delhi for the second round of CEPA talks held from May 4 to 7. Officials accompanying Goyal are expected to continue discussions during the Canada visit as both sides aim to accelerate the process.
India and Canada have set an ambitious target of reaching USD 50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
Canada is home to a large Indian diaspora, including around 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and nearly one million NRIs and students, widely regarded as an important bridge between the two nations.
Officials said the visit is expected to open new avenues of cooperation, rebuild mutual trust, and add fresh momentum to a partnership with significant untapped potential.