Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, to discuss expanding bilateral commercial engagement across key sectors including technology, infrastructure, clean energy, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing.

Context

The meeting centred on strengthening industry-led partnerships between the two nations. Minister Goyal and Hyder also exchanged views on the India-Canada CEO Forum and its role in deepening business-to-business ties at the corporate level, complementing government-to-government diplomatic channels.

The Business Council of Canada represents chief executives of the country's largest firms and is a principal voice for Canadian business in international trade and investment discussions. Hyder, as its president, has been active in advocating for greater Canadian commercial engagement with major emerging economies.

Policy Backdrop

India and Canada launched negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2010, aimed at broadening bilateral trade and investment flows. Progress on those talks has been uneven, and business-to-business forums such as the India-Canada CEO Forum have served as a parallel track to keep commercial momentum alive.

India has increasingly prioritised partnerships with resource-rich democracies as part of its supply-chain diversification strategy. Canada holds significant reserves of critical minerals essential for battery technology and the broader clean-energy transition, making it a strategically relevant partner for Indian industry.

Stakeholders and Impact

Indian technology companies stand to benefit from deeper collaboration in advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure, while Canadian mining and clean-energy firms could find expanded market access and joint-venture opportunities in India's growing industrial base. The clean energy and critical minerals segments, in particular, align with India's domestic production targets and its commitments under international climate frameworks.

The India-Canada CEO Forum provides a structured platform for corporate leaders on both sides to identify barriers and propose project-level solutions, reducing dependence on slow-moving intergovernmental processes. Such mechanisms have historically translated into concrete investment announcements and working-group mandates.

What's Next

Observers will watch for any follow-up announcements from the CEO Forum, including the formation of sector-specific working groups or investment commitments in critical minerals and clean energy. The meeting also raises the question of whether formal CEPA negotiations between the two countries could see renewed momentum at the government level.

With India actively courting resource-rich partners to secure supply chains for its manufacturing ambitions, sustained engagement with Canadian business leadership could translate into tangible project pipelines in the months ahead.