Canada's Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to Strengthen Ties with India on Key Economic Fronts
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Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, has arrived in India for a three-day visit to boost bilateral trade and investment ties. The visit, which began on November 12 and will conclude on November 14, aims to strengthen economic cooperation in key sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean technology, and digital industries. Sidhu will also attend the Confederation of Indian Industry's Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 14. According to the Canadian High Commission, the visit will reinforce Canada's commitment to diversifying its trade relationships and attracting new investment opportunities. The two-way trade between Canada and India stood at $30.9 billion in 2024, with significant potential for growth. Sidhu has identified areas such as energy, clean technology, AI, and agriculture as key sectors for cooperation, which can help deepen commercial ties and build more resilient supply chains. Canada views India as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region, and the visit comes close on the heels of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's trip to Canada to attend the G7 foreign ministers meeting. The two countries have been working to normalize relations, which hit a low point in 2023 following allegations of Indian government involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The recent steps taken by the two countries, including the posting of high commissioners and the unveiling of a roadmap to reset ties, have helped to mend relations. Sidhu's visit is expected to further strengthen the bilateral partnership and unlock new commercial opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.
