Toronto: In a significant thaw after two years of diplomatic tensions, a formal Canadian CEO delegation will travel to India in winter 2024 or early 2025, signalling a reset in India-Canada relations. This announcement follows a bilateral meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis on June 17.
The last high-level Canadian business visit occurred in summer 2023, during the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) talks. However, bilateral ties froze following former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s September 2023 statement alleging Indian involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Delegation Planning Underway
Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), confirmed the upcoming mission. He and a colleague will visit India this month to lay the groundwork for the CEO delegation.
“As encouraged by both governments, Canadian and Indian business leaders have remained engaged and continue to work together to strengthen bilateral commercial ties,” — Goldy Hyder, BCC
Leaders Signal a Reset at G7 Summit
The June 17 meeting between PM Carney and PM Modi was described by Canada’s PMO as a step toward restoring normalcy. The leaders reportedly discussed:
- Strengthening supply chains
- Energy transformation
- Critical minerals cooperation
- Food security and digital transitions
“They discussed strong and historic ties… and significant commercial links between Canada and India,” the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office said.
Trade Grew Despite Tensions
Despite strained diplomatic ties, trade remained resilient:
- Bilateral trade in goods rose from CA$10.74 billion (2023) to CA$11.30 billion (2024)
- India’s exports to Canada reached CA$2.35 billion in Jan–April 2025, poised to surpass 2024’s total of CA$5.93 billion
Hyder noted that even during the lull, CEOs from major Canadian firms privately visited India, some even meeting PM Modi.
Political Will Needed for Diversification
Hyder emphasised the strategic importance of India in Canada’s diversification agenda:
“It’s really important to have friends… and the diversification agenda must include India.”
He added that BCC maintains strong ties with Indian federal and state governments, and intends to “keep that drumbeat sustained.”
While the upcoming delegation is a positive signal, it is yet unclear if International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu will be associated with the visit. His predecessor, Mary Ng, had planned a mission in October 2023, which was cancelled due to the diplomatic fallout.
This renewed engagement could pave the way for reviving suspended trade talks, strengthening the Indo-Pacific strategy, and restoring long-term economic confidence between the two nations.