Canada Sends Record Trade Delegation to India and UAE

Foreign Minister Anita Anand is leading a diplomatic tour of India and the United Arab Emirates from October 13 to 16, 2026, to strengthen economic and security ties. In New Delhi, Anand will meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss defense, energy, and security cooperation. She is also scheduled to participate in a panel on middle powers at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.

Accompanying Anand is International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, who is leading nearly 300 business delegates to India. This represents the largest Canadian trade delegation to the country in more than 30 years, focusing on sectors including aerospace, clean energy, technology, and life sciences. The mission supports ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which both nations aim to conclude by the end of 2026. Canada intends to more than double its bilateral trade with India from USD 30.4 billion in 2025 to USD 70 billion by 2030.

Following the visit to India, Anand will travel to the United Arab Emirates. She will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss innovation, artificial intelligence, and regional security, building on a roadmap established during a Canadian prime ministerial visit in November 2025.