India–Canada Dialogue Resets Economic Partnership
New Delhi: India and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to renew and strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation at the seventh Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment here today.
The meeting, co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Maninder Sidhu, marked the resumption of high-level economic engagement between the two countries.
The dialogue advanced a forward-looking agenda for partnership in line with the joint statement of 13 October 2025 titled Renewing Momentum towards a Stronger Partnership, which identified trade as the cornerstone of bilateral growth and resilience. Both ministers reiterated that the India–Canada relationship rests on shared democratic values, cultural diversity, and growing economic complementarities.
Bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries stood at USD 18.38 billion in 2023. The ministers welcomed the rise in two-way investments and reaffirmed the goal of fostering an open, transparent, and predictable business environment that supports sustainable and inclusive growth. Discussions covered trade in goods and services, market access, regulatory alignment, and collaboration in key sectors such as nutritional security, supply-chain resilience, health, technology, and investment facilitation.
In 2025, both sides signalled a thaw in relations. During the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to reappoint high commissioners and restore normal diplomatic services, setting the stage for renewed dialogue. In October 2025, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand became the first Canadian cabinet minister in over two years to visit India for strategic talks, advancing the reset of institutional mechanisms covering trade, energy, education, and security cooperation.
The relationship had earlier faced strain following the 2023 allegations made by the previous Canadian government concerning the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the claims as baseless, leading to a downgrade in diplomatic representation and suspension of several bilateral engagements. Recent contacts at the Prime Minister and ministerial levels reflect a joint effort to move beyond that phase and rebuild cooperation through mutual respect and trust.
Concluding the dialogue, the ministers agreed to translate their discussions into practical outcomes that advance shared prosperity and underscore the depth and resilience of the India–Canada economic partnership.
– global bihari bureau
