Canada’s International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu has had a “productive” meeting with Indian Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, aimed at rebuilding their bilateral relationship.
Sidhu, who is on a three-day trip to India, said after the talks that Canada is hoping to rebuild ties with major trading partner India, as the two countries seek to turn the page on a years-long diplomatic row linked to the killing of Canadian Sikh activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“The meeting went really well. We focused on areas of opportunity — aerospace, AI, critical minerals, energy, agriculture — and what more we can do together.”
Maninder Sidhu
According to a statement from India’s commerce ministry, the Ministers in their meeting, reaffirmed the enduring strength of the India-Canada relationship, anchored in shared democratic values and cultural diversity.
It added that they highlighted the vital role of the vibrant Indian diaspora of nearly 2.9 million and over 427,000 Indian students in Canada, whose contributions continue to enrich both societies and serve as a bridge fostering deeper understanding, innovation, and economic collaboration.
The two Ministers also welcomed the steady rise in two-way investments and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering an open, transparent, and predictable business environment that supports sustainable and inclusive growth.
The Canadian International Trade Minister’s visit to India marks one of the highest-level trade engagements between Canada and India since negotiations on a bilateral pact were halted in 2023 over accusations that India was involved in the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Then Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, had said that there were “credible links” between the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination in the province of British Columbia in June 2023.
New Delhi vehemently denied the allegations, which prompted both governments to expel each other’s diplomats. India also suspended visa services in Canada.
Despite the accusations, Trudeau’s successor, Prime Minister Mark Carney, has sought to re-establish ties with India since his government came into office earlier this year. Carney met Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in June in the Canadian province of Alberta.
According to a readout of the discussions released by Carney’s office, the two leaders “reaffirmed the importance of Canada-India ties, based upon mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
It added that the leaders agreed to designate new High Commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries.
Today’s talks in New Delhi also come as both India and Canada face increased economic uncertainty spurred by United States President, Donald Trump’s steep tariffs.
Canada Eager To Enhance Cooperation With India
Sidhu, the Canadian Trade Minister, told a news agency that the Carney government was eager to enhance cooperation with India to attract investment in the energy and critical minerals sectors. “Canada has every element needed to build an electric battery,” he said, adding that Ottawa welcomed investment from New Delhi in mining critical minerals and infrastructure projects.
According to the statement from India’s commerce ministry, the meeting between Sidhu and his Indian counterpart covered a wide-ranging agenda encompassing key areas of economic cooperation.
It disclosed that discussions focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties and advancing sectoral collaboration across priority domains, including nutritional security, supply chain resilience, health sector cooperation, and investment facilitation.
The Ministers also reviewed recent trade policy developments, covering trade in goods and services, and exchanged views to enhance market access, promote regulatory alignment, and support long-term economic resilience.
Moreover, the Ministers reaffirmed their shared vision to renew and revitalize the India-Canada economic partnership, grounded in mutual respect, trust, and a spirit of collaboration.
They agreed to translate the “constructive discussions” into tangible outcomes that advance shared prosperity and reflect the depth and dynamism, to define India-Canada relations.
READ ALSO: Baffoe-Bonnie More than Qualified for CJ Role – AG Contends
