Canada’s International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu, is currently in India for a three-day visit (November 12-14) aimed at accelerating trade and investment linkages between the two countries, which are actively working to normalize relations following a diplomatic dispute two years ago.
Sidhu’s itinerary includes talks focused on strengthening commercial ties, particularly in high-growth sectors:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Clean Technology
- Digital Industries
The Minister will also travel to Visakhapatnam to attend the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Partnership Summit on November 14.
Bilateral Trade and Indo-Pacific Strategy
Minister Sidhu emphasized India’s importance, calling it “one of the fastest-growing major economies” that offers “significant opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.”
- Trade Volume: Two-way trade between Canada and India was valued at $30.9 billion in 2024.
- Target Sectors: Canada’s commercial priorities in India are targeted at agriculture, clean technology, digital industries, and infrastructure, with potential for cooperation in energy and agriculture.
- Strategic Importance: Canada perceives India as a key partner in its strategy to strengthen economic links across the Indo-Pacific region.
Diplomatic Momentum
Sidhu’s visit closely follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent trip to Canada for the G7 foreign ministers meeting, where he held a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand.
Jaishankar expressed optimism regarding the recent diplomatic efforts, noting progress on the “New Roadmap 2025” designed to reset ties. The two sides have taken steps to normalize relations, including the posting of High Commissioners and the unveiling of the roadmap, which began after the diplomatic low point caused by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s unproven allegations in September 2023.