India, Canada revive ties with critical minerals, aerospace partnerships

India and Canada on Friday jointly announced long term partnerships in critical minerals, clean energy and exploration of trade opportunities in aerospace sector, marking a revival in bilateral ties that had been strained during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

The announcement followed the 7th Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) held in New Delhi from November 11 to 14.

At the invitation of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Maninder Sidhu visited India for discussions aimed at resetting economic cooperation. The meeting followed directions issued by the two Prime Ministers during their G7-side talks in Kananaskis and the joint foreign ministers’ statement released on October 13, which identified trade as the anchor of future engagement.


The dialogue identified new areas of cooperation. The ministers agreed to promote long-term supply chain partnerships in critical minerals and expand collaboration in clean energy, acknowledging their importance for energy transition and industrial growth. They also agreed to explore deeper engagement in aerospace and dual-use capabilities, leveraging Canada’s existing presence in India and the rapid expansion of India’s aviation sector.

Both sides reaffirmed the continuity of the economic partnership and underlined the need for sustained dialogue and forward-looking initiatives, the government said. As per the joint statement, the ministers noted that bilateral trade in goods and services reached $23.66 billion in 2024, with merchandise trade rising 10% to nearly $8.98 billion.

They highlighted the growing two-way investment flows, including strong Canadian institutional participation in India and the expanding footprint of Indian companies in Canada, the Commerce Ministry said.

Goyal and Sidhu also discussed global supply chain disruptions and the need to strengthen resilience in strategic sectors, including agriculture, further stressing the importance of diversified and reliable supply chains to ensure long-term economic stability.

The ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress of the talks and committed to maintaining a predictable investment environment. They said people-to-people ties continue to underpin the broader partnership.