India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has emphasized the significance of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to India in reshaping the Canada-India relationship. Goyal, currently in Canada for trade and investment discussions, held a meeting with International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu on Monday.
Expressing optimism about the future, Goyal highlighted the mutual interest of both countries in establishing a free trade agreement by 2026. Trade negotiations between Canada and India have been ongoing since 2010, but were halted in 2023 following allegations by the Canadian government linking New Delhi to the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist in Surrey, B.C.
Prime Minister Carney, who prioritized improving ties with India upon assuming office in 2025, visited Mumbai and New Delhi in March. During this visit, significant agreements were signed, including a deal worth $2.6 billion to supply 22 million pounds of uranium to India for nuclear energy production and commercial agreements exceeding $5.5 billion.
Goyal expressed confidence in the swift transformation of the Canada-India relationship post-Carney’s visit, stating that it has laid the groundwork for a comprehensive revamp, setting new objectives and agendas. The minister praised the commitment and pace demonstrated by both countries in enhancing cooperation.
In addition to aiming for a free trade agreement by year-end, Goyal disclosed plans to triple bilateral trade to $50 billion US by 2030. Accompanied by over 100 senior business delegates from various sectors such as mining, energy, automotive, and aerospace, Goyal’s visit to Canada marks India’s largest-ever business delegation to the country.
Sidhu mentioned the use of “WhatsApp diplomacy” in fostering communication between the two nations and announced Canada’s intention to send a delegation to India for further trade discussions later this year.
Highlighting the enthusiasm for bolstering economic ties with India, Sidhu emphasized the importance of upcoming meetings in advancing this partnership. The Liberal government has set a goal to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade and has already secured 20 strategic trade and defense agreements globally in the past year.
Carney’s extensive international engagements include visits to 25 countries across 17 trips since March 2025. Sidhu revealed the government’s ambition to finalize two major trade agreements before the year-end with the South American trade bloc Mercosur and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.