Ottawa — Canada will send nearly 300 business delegates to India next week in its biggest trade mission to the country in more than 30 years, as it looks to expand commercial ties and more than double bilateral trade by 2030.
The delegation, led by Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, will visit Mumbai and Bengaluru from October 12 to 17, according to an official statement. The visit comes as India and Canada work to conclude negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of this year.
Sidhu stated that matching Canadian expertise in sectors like aerospace, agri-food, and clean technology with India's growing demand will help diversify trade and attract new investment. The mission aims to help Canadian businesses connect with Indian decision-makers, industry leaders, and potential customers while building partnerships expected to generate employment in Canada.
The fifth round of economic partnership negotiations was held in Ottawa from October 5 to 9. Sidhu had previously met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in the United States on October 1, where they discussed progress in the talks and efforts to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties.
India and Canada announced a renewed push for a comprehensive trade agreement during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India in March, setting a target of raising two-way trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods and services totalled CAD 30.4 billion, according to Canadian government data.
Canada's merchandise exports to India stood at CAD 3.9 billion, led by vegetables, mineral fuels and oils, and wood pulp, while merchandise imports from India reached CAD 9.7 billion, mainly comprising precious stones and metals, machinery, and pharmaceutical products.
The official statement noted that Canada is looking to diversify its exports beyond the United States, with India serving as a key pillar of that strategy. The Canadian Indo-Pacific Strategy, launched in 2022, identifies trade, security, sustainability, people-to-people ties, and regional engagement as its five strategic objectives.
Overall, the upcoming mission underscores Canada's effort to deepen economic ties with India, support progress on the trade pact talks, and push toward the 2030 target for bilateral commerce.