Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu began his visit to India on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral trade and investment linkages, marking an important step toward rebuilding commercial momentum between the two nations.

According to the Office of the Minister of International Trade, Sidhu’s visit will focus on advancing opportunities in artificial intelligence, clean technology, digital industries, agriculture, and energy — sectors that represent key pillars of Canada’s Indo-Pacific trade strategy.

During his trip, Sidhu will also travel to Visakhapatnam on November 14 to attend the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit, where he is expected to meet Indian business leaders and government representatives to explore new investment partnerships.

“This visit to India will reinforce Canada’s commitment to diversifying our trade relationships and attracting new investment,” Sidhu said in an official statement. “As one of the fastest-growing major economies, India offers significant opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.”

Bilateral trade between the two countries surpassed $30 billion in 2024, reflecting the growing potential for cooperation across emerging sectors. Sidhu emphasized that deepening engagement in areas like AI, clean energy, and agriculture could “unlock new opportunities, drive innovation, and build more resilient and secure supply chains” that benefit both countries.

The minister’s visit comes at a crucial time as Canada seeks to expand its economic footprint in Asia under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, identifying India as a key partner in regional stability and prosperity. The strategy highlights sectors where Canada has a comparative advantage, including clean technology, critical minerals, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Sidhu, an Indo-Canadian with roots in Punjab, was previously the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, Karina Gould. He represents Brampton East and was re-elected to a third term earlier this year as a member of the Liberal Party.

India currently ranks as Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner, and both countries are working to expand collaboration through government and industry-led initiatives. As India moves toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy, Canada’s renewed engagement aims to tap into its growth trajectory while supporting shared goals of sustainable development and innovation.

The visit is expected to further reinforce the longstanding people-to-people ties and shared democratic values that underpin the India–Canada partnership.