Canada Sends Largest Trade Mission to India in 30 Years
Minister Maninder Sidhu is leading nearly 300 business delegates to India to expand trade in aerospace, agri-food, and clean technology.
Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu is leading a trade mission of nearly 300 business delegates to Mumbai and Bengaluru from October 12 to 17, 2026. This represents the largest Canadian trade delegation sent to India in over 30 years and is part of a broader Indo-Pacific Strategy to diversify exports beyond the United States.
The mission focuses on expanding commercial relations in aerospace, clean technology, agri-food, and life sciences. The federal government aims to more than double bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030, following a 2025 trade total of C$30.4 billion. This initiative follows the fifth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement held in Ottawa from October 5 to 9.
Provincial representatives from Saskatchewan joined the effort, with Trade and Export Minister Warren Kaeding and Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff departing October 10. Kaeding is focusing on food security, energy, and critical minerals, while Cheveldayoff is meeting with post-secondary institutions. This follows a February mission involving Prime Minister Mark Carney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe that secured a $2.6 billion uranium supply deal for Cameco.
The diplomatic push represents a reset of bilateral ties between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after relations deteriorated sharply in 2023.
