Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa, marking a significant step in deepening economic ties between the two nations.
Goyal's visit, which will run from Monday to Wednesday, underscores Canada's push to strengthen its economic engagement with India as the two countries work towards a comprehensive trade agreement.
The meeting is a rare instance of an Indian Cabinet minister being received at that level in Ottawa, and signals Canada's intent and vision for India-Canada relations, according to India's High Commissioner to Ottawa Dinesh Patnaik.
Goyal will be accompanied by a team of trade negotiators who will continue discussions with Canadian counterparts on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA.
He will also meet with various Canadian ministers, including Maninder Sidhu, Anita Anand, and Heath McDonald, and will travel to Toronto for meetings with business and industry leaders.
The Canada-India Business Council has organised the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum, which will be jointly convened by Sidhu and Goyal, and is expected to attract a large business delegation from India.
The relationship between the two nations has reached an inflection point, with Canadian direct and indirect investment in India exceeding CA$150 billion, and bilateral trade standing at just under CA$33 billion.
