Highlights:
• India and Canada launch new trade and investment forum
• Platform aims to strengthen business and commercial partnerships
• Piyush Goyal held bilateral talks during Canada visit
• Both countries reaffirm commitment to CEPA trade agreement
• India-Canada CEPA negotiations expected to conclude this year
• Trade pact aimed at improving market access and supply chains
• Canada to send Team Canada Trade Mission to India later this year
• Focus on stronger business mobility and people-to-people ties
New Delhi, May 29, 2026: India and Canada have jointly launched a new trade and investment forum aimed at boosting commercial partnerships and increasing business engagement between companies from both countries.
The announcement was made through a joint statement released on Friday following Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s three-day official visit to Canada from May 25 to 27.
During the visit, Goyal held bilateral talks with Canada’s Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and interacted with several business leaders to discuss opportunities for expanding economic cooperation.
“The Ministers launched the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum as an important platform to connect business leaders from both nations and encourage fresh commercial collaborations and greater business interaction,” the joint statement said.
Both countries also agreed to improve connectivity by promoting stronger people-to-people ties, smoother business mobility, and deeper direct commercial links, which are expected to support higher bilateral trade and investment flows.
India and Canada further reaffirmed their commitment to negotiating a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both sides expressed confidence about concluding the negotiations by the end of the year.
The proposed trade agreement is expected to improve market access, strengthen resilient supply chains, and create new economic opportunities for businesses in both countries.
The statement also confirmed that Canada will lead a “Team Canada Trade Mission” to India later this year to deepen economic engagement and explore fresh investment opportunities across sectors.
