India, Canada Eye $50 Billion Trade

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal concluded his three-day visit to Canada on 28 May 2026, leading India’s largest-ever business delegation and focusing on accelerating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations, with both nations committed to expanding bilateral trade from $8.5 billion to $50 billion by 2030.

His engagements spanned academia, innovation centres, government leaders, investors, and the Indo-Canadian community, reinforcing momentum in economic and strategic ties.

Piyush Goyal’s visit combined high-level diplomacy with grassroots engagement. He addressed faculty, researchers, and students at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, outlining India’s rapid economic progress and opportunities for deeper collaboration in trade, investment, and people-to-people ties.

He emphasised India’s transformation into a global economic hub and invited Canadian academia to partner in shaping future cooperation.

At the Ontario Centre of Innovation, Goyal explored Canada’s initiatives in supporting start-ups and fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government. He held discussions with Canada-India Tech Connect on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, highlighting opportunities in AI, cleantech, agriculture technology, and deep tech where both nations possess complementary strengths.

In a key political engagement, Goyal met Ontario Premier Doug Ford to discuss collaboration in manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, clean energy, food processing, and critical minerals. These talks underscored the potential for India–Ontario cooperation in sectors vital to both economies.

He also interacted with regional chambers and business leaders operating in the India-Canada corridor, receiving feedback on strengthening commercial engagement and boosting investment flows amid CEPA negotiations.

Meetings with institutional investors, including Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and CPP Investments, focused on opportunities in infrastructure, renewables, logistics, financial services, and the digital economy in India.

Minister Goyal encouraged Canadian pension funds and institutional investors to expand their footprint in India’s growth sectors, stressing India’s rising global economic stature and the new avenues it opens for international partnerships.

The minister also engaged with the Canada-India Foundation and members of the Indo-Canadian community, praising their role in bridging the two nations through stronger business engagement and cultural ties. He highlighted the invaluable contribution of the diaspora in reinforcing bilateral relations.

Goyal’s delegation comprised representatives from more than 100 Indian companies, making it the largest-ever Indian business mission to Canada. The visit aimed to accelerate CEPA negotiations, which both sides have resolved to conclude by the end of 2026.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the CEPA as a potential “game changer” that could unlock significant market opportunities in energy, agri-food, technology, and education. Goyal’s meetings with Carney, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald reaffirmed shared priorities in clean energy, food processing, infrastructure, logistics, and digital transformation.

The visit marked a thaw in India-Canada relations after years of political gridlock, with both nations recognising the strategic importance of economic cooperation. The ambitious target of USD 50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 reflects a renewed commitment to building resilient supply chains, fostering innovation, and strengthening democratic partnerships.

ANI

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PM Modi And PM Carney Target USD 50 Billion Trade Milestone By 2030 Amid CEPA Push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ambitious plans for India and Canada to achieve USD 50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark J Carney in New Delhi on 2 March 2026, Modi described this target as a key step in elevating their partnership to the next level.

The leaders committed to finalising a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) in the near future. Modi emphasised that this accord would unlock fresh investment and employment opportunities across both nations, building on existing momentum in economic ties.

Canadian pension funds have already channelled USD 100 billion into India, a stark indicator of confidence in the country's growth trajectory. Modi highlighted this investment as a cornerstone of mutual trust, with further business engagements planned later that day to shape a detailed roadmap for cooperation.

Modi praised Carney's visit as a pivotal milestone, recalling their cordial discussions at the G7 summit in Canada the previous year. He commended Carney's influence in central banking for both countries, crediting him with injecting new energy, trust, and positivity into bilateral relations.

The two nations share a profound commitment to democratic values and cultural diversity, Modi noted. Their joint vision for humanity's well-being drives progress across multiple domains, from trade to strategic partnerships.

Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were exchanged in the leaders' presence, formalising commitments in areas likely spanning trade, investment, and technology. These pacts underscore the visit's tangible outcomes.

The bilateral talks unfolded at Hyderabad House earlier that day, following Carney's arrival in New Delhi from Mumbai. Carney's official visit, at Modi's invitation, began on 27 February 2026—his first as Canadian Prime Minister—and concluded with his departure from the capital that evening.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Carney earlier, lauding his dedication to forging a forward-looking partnership. Jaishankar's engagement signalled high-level alignment within India's diplomatic apparatus.

This visit arrives amid a delicate phase of normalising India-Canada relations, strained in recent years by diplomatic tensions over issues like the Khalistan movement and allegations of foreign interference. Carney's tour, blending economic diplomacy with strategic dialogue, marks a deliberate pivot towards reconciliation.

From Mumbai's commercial hubs to New Delhi's policy corridors, Carney's itinerary highlighted economic priorities. Discussions likely touched on sectors such as clean energy, critical minerals, and digital trade—fields where Canadian expertise aligns with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat push for self-reliance.

Canada's role as a G7 member offers India access to advanced technologies and sustainable finance, while India's burgeoning market appeals to Canadian exporters in agriculture, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals. The USD 50 billion trade goal, from a current base of around USD 10 billion annually, demands accelerated tariff reductions and supply chain integration via the impending CEPA.

Modi's reference to business community input reflects a pragmatic approach, incorporating private sector insights to navigate hurdles like non-tariff barriers and regulatory alignment. Canadian pension funds' investments, particularly in infrastructure and renewables, exemplify this synergy.

Carney, a former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor, brings financial acumen to the table. His leadership has steered Canada towards climate-focused policies, potentially aligning with India's green hydrogen and net-zero ambitions by 2070.

Geopolitically, the partnership countersbalance influences in the Indo-Pacific, with shared interests in countering China's assertiveness. Defence and critical technology ties, though nascent, could expand under the new framework.

Challenges persist, including past extradition disputes and diaspora sensitivities. Yet, this summit signals maturity, prioritising economics over friction.

As Carney departs, the onus falls on negotiators to expedite the CEPA. Achieving USD 50 billion by 2030 would not only boost GDP contributions but also cement a resilient alliance amid global uncertainties.

ANI

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PM Modi Holds Talks With Chile President On Bilateral Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, on April 1, 2025, marking the beginning of Boric's five-day state visit to India. The leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties across various domains, including trade, technology, energy, and healthcare.

A key focus was initiating negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which would make Chile the first Latin American country to have such an agreement with India.

President Boric paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat earlier in the day, emphasizing shared values of peace and non-violence between India and Chile. He expressed optimism about enhancing economic, political, and cultural relations during his visit. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met Boric to reaffirm bilateral cooperation.

The visit includes meetings with Indian leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, and engagements with business representatives in Mumbai and Bengaluru to explore opportunities in agribusiness, innovation, and technology.

PM Modi highlighted Chile's role as a gateway to Antarctica and India's readiness to collaborate on critical minerals, renewable energy, space exploration, and digital infrastructure.

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UAE Foreign Minister Arrives In New Delhi For 15Th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has arrived in New Delhi for a significant three-day visit from December 11 to 13, 2024. This visit is aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the UAE through high-level engagements, including discussions on trade, investment, and regional security issues.

On December 12, Al Nahyan will participate in the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue, where he will meet with India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. They are expected to review the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations and discuss pressing regional issues, particularly the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Following the strategic dialogue, a Joint Commission Meeting is scheduled for December 13 to further explore avenues for collaboration across various sectors.

The UAE is India's third-largest trading partner and a key investor. The two countries have seen a significant increase in bilateral trade, amounting to approximately USD 85 billion in 2022-23. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022 aims to boost non-oil trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.

During his visit, Al Nahyan is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the importance of diplomatic relations established since 1972.

This visit marks the UAE's pivotal role in the geopolitical landscape and its commitment to enhancing ties with India amidst evolving regional dynamics.

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