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Piyush Goyal to visit Canada from May 25-27 for CEPA talks, business meetings

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Canada from May 25 to 27 to advance negotiations on the proposed India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.

The minister will hold talks with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu to review the progress of CEPA negotiations and explore new opportunities for economic cooperation. More than 100 Indian business representatives from sectors including metals and mining, energy, automotive, aerospace, tourism, textiles, agriculture, telecom and pharmaceuticals are accompanying Goyal during the visit.

During the trip, Goyal is also scheduled to call on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and meet Foreign Minister Anita Anand as part of efforts to deepen strategic and economic engagement between the two countries.

According to the Commerce Ministry, bilateral trade between India and Canada stood at around USD 8 billion in FY2025-26, with India’s exports at USD 4.67 billion and imports at USD 3.28 billion. Both countries have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.

The ministry said energy security, clean energy transition, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and innovation ecosystems would remain key focus areas during the discussions. The visit also comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries since mid-2025, including Prime Minister Carney’s visit to India in March this year, during which CEPA negotiations were formally launched.

An official Canadian delegation had visited New Delhi earlier this month for the second round of CEPA negotiations, and both sides are now aiming to fast-track the agreement. India also highlighted the role of the 2.8 million-strong Indian diaspora in Canada in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.

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