India–Canada relations just hit a new high — Here’s what the ministers agreed on!

At the invitation of India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, undertook an official visit to India from November 11 to November 14.

Pursuant to the direction provided by the Prime Ministers of the two countries during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, as well as the Foreign Ministers Joint Statement: “Renewing momentum towards a stronger partnership” of 13th October 2025 which identified trade as the cornerstone of bilateral economic growth and resilience, the two Trade Ministers held the 7th edition of the Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI).

The Ministers noted robust growth in bilateral trade in goods and services, which reached US$23.66 billion in 2024, with merchandise trade valued at nearly US$8.98 billion, a substantial 10% increase over the previous year.

The Ministers reaffirmed the strength and resilience of the India–Canada economic partnership and emphasized the importance of continued engagement with the private sector to unlock new opportunities for trade and investment.

They welcomed the steady expansion of two-way investment flows, including notable Canadian institutional investment in India and the growing presence of Indian firms in Canada, which together support tens of thousands of jobs in both economies.

The Ministers committed to maintaining an open, transparent, and predictable investment environment and to exploring avenues for deeper collaboration across priority and emerging sectors.

According to the released joint statement, the Ministers exchanged views on global developments and reflected on lessons from recent disruptions.

"They underscored the relevance of strengthening resilience in critical sectors, including agriculture, and highlighted the need for diversified and reliable supply chains as essential for supporting long-term economic stability," the statement said.

The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made in strengthening bilateral economic engagement and reaffirmed their shared commitment to elevate the economic partnership to reflect global developments and evolving supply chain and trade dynamics.

They emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the bilateral dialogue and supporting people-to-people ties, which provide a strong foundation for the partnership.

The Ministers agreed to sustained ministerial engagements with the trade and investment community in both Canada and India early next year.

The meeting was held at a time when India-Canada relations are seeking recalibration. Ties between the two countries had deteriorated sharply in 2023 following tensions linked to Khalistani extremist activities in Canada and the subsequent diplomatic expulsions by both sides.

The strain in relations intensified after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen linked to Khalistani separatism. India rejected the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated”.