India’s Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal’s three-day visit to Canada signalled a renewed focus on trade, investment, innovation, and the ongoing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) discussions.
The visit, held from May 25 to 28 across Ottawa and Toronto, brought together government leaders, institutional investors, business councils, innovation platforms, regional chambers, and members of the Indo-Canadian community.
India’s Union Minister called on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa, where discussions focused on deepening India-Canada cooperation and accelerating CEPA. Carney described the proposed free trade agreement with India as “a game changer for Canadian workers and businesses — unlocking a massive new market,” while Goyal said the talks were “forward-looking” and expressed optimism about the early conclusion of CEPA.
Later speaking at a joint media address in Ottawa with Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, the Indian Union Minister said, “Our Prime Minister (Shri Narendra Modi) has tasked us not only with completing the free trade agreement with a comprehensive outlook before the end of this year or earlier — but also tripling our trade from a current USD8.5 billion to US$50 billion by 2030.”
Goyal led the largest-ever Indian business delegation to Canada, comprising leaders from more than 100 Indian companies, who interacted and engaged with leading Indo-Canadian business leaders. As part of his visit, Goyal also addressed the members of the Canada India Foundation (CIF) in an exclusive interaction.
Among those present at the Albany Club meeting was Kuldeep Sharma, Chairman & CEO of Crown Group of Hotels, Chairman of Sashi Security, and a member of the Canada India Foundation’s Board of Governors.
Addressing CIF members, Goyal urged the Indo-Canadian community to seize the opportunity before them. “Time is ripe for this partnership to take wings,” he said.
Calling the Union Minister’s speech “inspiring, Sharma hoped that the renewed focus on CEPA “brings more transformative outcomes for entrepreneurs and investors on both sides.”
In other engagements, Goyal addressed the Munk School at the University of Toronto, engaged with the Ontario Centre of Innovation and Canada-India Tech Connect, and highlighted opportunities in AI, quantum computing, cleantech, agritech, and deep tech. He also met Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; Goldy Hyder of the Business Council of Canada; Jo Taylor of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan; and John Graham of CPP Investments.
