Canada-India Relations

Both sides pursue bilateral relations through the dialogue mechanisms such as Ministerial level- Strategic, Trade and Energy dialogues; Foreign Office Consultations; and other sector specific joint working groups (JWG)

The Canadian government unveiled its Indo-Pacific Strategy in November 2022, which recognizes India as a crucial partner and aims to improve Canada’s market access by negotiating and implementing new comprehensive free trade agreements with Indo-Pacific nations, including India. 

India and Canada are discussing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Partnership Agreement (BIPPA/FIPA).

India-Canada CEO Forum: Constituted to improve bilateral trade and investment flows. The Forum identified natural resources, infrastructure, education, information and communication technology and financial services as priority sectors.

PM Justin Trudeau’s visit to India in Feb 2018 was marked by Signing of agreements and MOUs on cooperation across ICT, Energy, IPRs, Higher Education, Science & Technology. An MoU was also signed between Invest India and the Investment and Innovation Bureau, Global Affairs Canada on Investment Promotion & Facilitation.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry co-hosted the 6th Canada-India Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment with Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development in May 2023, where they issued a joint statement aimed at strengthening Canada-India economic relations. The ministers made advancements in key trade initiatives, including ongoing discussions towards an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA).

Energy has been a prime area of focus in our bilateral ties. There have been three rounds of energy dialogues focusing on core pillars of Hydrocarbon, Coal, and Power. The scope of the dialogue was further expanded in 2018 during PM Trudeau’s visit to India, to include renewable energy, energy efficiency and electricity, reflecting the increasing mutual importance to sustainable development.

Hon. Prime Minister of India’s visit to Canada in 2015 signified the start of a strategic chapter in bilateral relations with the signing of 13 agreements including the pact on space cooperation and MoUs in railways, transportation, civil aviation, skill development, the historical deal on Uranium ore procurement and the renewed commitment to bilateral nuclear cooperation.

Canada is the 18th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of $ 3,306 Mn from April 2000 to March 2023. Canadian investments represented 0.5% of the total FDI inflows into India.

Bilateral trade in goods amounted to $ 8.16 Bn in FY22-23 with India's exports to Canada amounting to $ 4.11 Bn and India's imports from Canada amounting to $ 4.05 Bn during the period.

Services, and Infrastructure together accounted for 40.63% of the total FDI investments from Canada to India.

In order to strengthen the start-up ecosystem in both India and Canada, Invest India has signed a MoU with the Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) to foster start-up collaboration.

More than 600 Canadian companies have a presence in India and over 1,000 Canadian companies are actively pursuing business in the Indian market.

In the 2003-2019 period, Mumbai and Bengaluru were among the top 10 destination cities for Canadian outbound investment in APAC.

• Bengaluru - $5.4bn
• Mumbai – $5.1bn

A priority market for Canada, in 2022, India was Canada’s 9th largest trading partner.

Cultural Relations form the bed-rock of the India – Canada relationship. Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, numbering 1.6 Mn (PIOs and NRIs) which account for more than 3% of its total population. A majority of PIOs live in Greater Toronto, Greater Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary.

Diwali has been celebrated on the Parliament Hill in Canada for the last 21 years. More than 400 persons and 8 Members of Parliament of Canada attended the 19th ‘Diwali on Hill’ event in October 2019. The celebration was held again in October 2022 after a gap of 2 years due to the Covid19 pandemic.

Canada was the Country of Focus at the 48th International Film Festival of India held in Goa in November 2017. India and Canada also signed an audio-visual co-production agreement in 2014 during the visit of Canadian Governor General David Johnston to bring cultural and economic benefits to Canadians and Indians while inspiring audiences worldwide.