Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade is at the forefront of renewed efforts to increase trade between Canada and India. His India trade mission in October 2026 and CII Partnership Summit Visakhapatnam this week have focused attention on opportunities for expanding bilateral trade and investment.
The 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 will be held on November 12 and 13 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal would chair the summit which is expected to have international ministers, diplomats, investors and business leaders in attendance.
However, an additional visit by Sidhu to attend the November summit has not yet been independently confirmed through an official Canadian government announcement.
Canada Focuses on Expanding Trade With India
On October 9, 2026 Global Affairs Canada announced that Maninder Sidhu would lead a Team Canada Trade Mission to India from October 12 to 17.
The delegation had nearly 300 Canadian business representatives which made it Canada’s largest trade delegation to India in more than 30 years.
Mumbai and Bengaluru were on the mission itinerary and Canadian businesses were matched with Indian decision makers, industry leaders and commercial partners.
Canada saw India as an important market to expand its international trade activities and generate new business opportunities.
Key Sectors for India-Canada Cooperation
The Canadian trade mission targeted several important industries: aerospace, clean technology, energy transition, information and communication technology, life sciences and agri-food.
These sectors provide opportunities for businesses in both countries to develop partnerships, attract investment and build supply chains.
Canada is keen to expand cooperation in areas where its businesses can bring technology, expertise and investment into India’s growing economy.
The two countries are also looking at increasing bilateral trade to $70 billion annually by 2030.
CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam
The CII Partnership Summit is scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 November 2026 in Visakhapatnam.
The 31st edition of the summit is organised by Confederation of Indian Industry in association with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Andhra Pradesh government.
Piyush Goyal will chair the event and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will be co-chair.
The summit will focus on international trade, investment, global value chains, technology, innovation, clean energy and international economic cooperation.
About 3,800 delegates from around 58 countries are expected to participate in the meeting according to reports.
Investment proposals worth up to Rs 11 lakh crore will also be invited at the event and about 2.5 lakh jobs would be created.
India-Canada Trade Agreement Negotiations
Another area of cooperation between the two countries is the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Canada and India have been working towards reaching an agreement by the end of 2026.
The agreement is expected to increase market access, drive investment and provide more opportunities for business in both countries.
Maninder Sidhu and Piyush Goyal have had several meetings on trade and investment priorities. They also discussed CEPA negotiations at their October 2026 meeting in New Delhi.
Stronger Economic Partnership Ahead
Canada’s growing commercial engagement with India is evidence of its diversification of international trade relationships and expansion of business opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Stronger economic cooperation between India and Canada could open up opportunities in technology, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and other important industries.
The CII Partnership Summit provides an important forum for international businesses and governments to explore these opportunities.
As both countries continue to talk trade and investment the goal is still building a stronger economic partnership and long term opportunities for businesses and workers.
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