Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on November 24 that India sees considerable scope for collaboration with Canada in critical minerals, mineral processing technologies, clean energy and supply-chain diversification. Addressing the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber, the minister further stated that India offers strong advantages in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, machine learning and next-generation data centres, supported by the world’s largest annual pool of STEM graduates. He noted that Canada and India are natural allies whose complementary strengths create significant opportunities for businesses and investors in both countries.
Goyal underlined that the India-Canada partnership continues to be grounded in mutual trust, democratic values and a shared commitment to development. He emphasised that the bilateral relationship remains strong and stable, with steadily growing engagement across trade, investment and emerging sectors. Referring to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Goyal highlighted that both leaders agreed to begin negotiations for a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and double bilateral trade by 2030. CEPA reflects the trust between the two countries, strengthens investor confidence and provides a robust framework for addressing issues based on mutual respect, he added.
Goyal underscored that India’s national power grid of 500 GW, including 250 GW of clean energy capacity, provides the resilience required for AI-driven infrastructure. He noted that India’s ambition to double clean energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 positions the country as a trusted and sustainable partner, and that India is among the few democracies capable of offering genuine 24-hour clean energy at globally competitive rates. Referring to the seventh Ministerial Dialogue held earlier this month with Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Goyal said both sides agreed to reinvigorate business-to-business engagement and explore two-way business delegations. He appreciated the steady flow of Canadian investments into India, particularly through Canadian pension funds, and noted the increasing interest of Canadian companies in expanding operations in the country.
