India Seeks Stronger Trade Ties with Canada: Piyush Goyal

In a significant diplomatic outreach, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called on Canadian businesses to deepen their engagement with India's rapidly growing economy during his visit to Toronto. Addressing a ministerial session on political and commercial realignment, Goyal presented India's reform journey and its commitment to ease of doing business. He underlined the transformative potential of the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, describing it as a strategic instrument that would unlock new opportunities in trade, investment, and technology collaboration. Goyal stressed that both countries stand to gain substantially from enhanced economic integration. The minister highlighted the ambitious target of expanding bilateral trade from the current $8.5 billion to $50 billion by 2030. He said this goal requires focused efforts in sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and agri-business. Goyal led a 100-plus member Indian business delegation that participated in extensive roundtable discussions and matchmaking sessions with Canadian counterparts. The visit builds on the momentum created by recent high-level exchanges between the two nations. Officials noted that the three-day engagement aims to translate political understanding into actionable commercial outcomes, with particular emphasis on expediting CEPA negotiations and identifying bankable projects for joint implementation.