India, Canada Target ₹4.65 Lakh Crore Trade
India has expressed readiness to begin negotiations with Canada on a Bilateral Investment Treaty as the two countries seek to rebuild economic ties and raise bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion, about ₹4.65 lakh crore, by 2030.
India Ready for Canada Investment Treaty Talks
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne discussed the proposal during the inaugural Canada-India Finance Ministers’ Economic and Financial Dialogue.
India said it was prepared to begin Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations at the earliest. Such an agreement would establish rules and protections for investors from both countries, potentially encouraging greater long-term investment.
The two governments are also working towards completing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026.
India-Canada Target ₹4.65 Lakh Crore Trade
Both sides reaffirmed an ambition to expand overall bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030.
India-Canada merchandise trade stood at around $8 billion in 2025-26, with Indian exports worth approximately $4.67 billion and imports of about $3.28 billion.
Canadian pension funds and institutional investors already have a significant presence in India, and both governments want to deepen cooperation between financial institutions and capital markets.
UPI and Critical Minerals in Focus
India and Canada also discussed expanding cooperation in digital payments, financial technology, critical minerals and resilient supply chains.
The two sides will explore links between India’s Unified Payments Interface and Canadian payment service providers, potentially making cross-border payments and remittances faster and cheaper.
Critical minerals, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, energy and technology were also identified as priority sectors for deeper investment and commercial cooperation.
The next Canada-India Economic and Financial Dialogue is expected to take place in 2027.
