New Delhi, Jan 17 (NationPress) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held discussions on Saturday with David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, emphasizing the need for consistent engagement to unlock new opportunities and enhance relations between India and Canada.

Goyal shared through a post on the X social media platform that his meeting with Eby was highly productive.

“Our discussions were centered on fortifying the India-Canada economic partnership, promoting trade and investment collaboration, and investigating partnerships in various sectors such as critical minerals, manufacturing, clean energy, technology, education, defense, and innovation,” the minister elaborated.

“We reiterated the significance of ongoing engagement to unlock new avenues and deepen the connections between both countries,” he mentioned.

Goyal is preparing to lead a significant trade and investment delegation to Canada to further develop commercial ties. He indicated that the objective is to initiate negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Canada.

In November, India and Canada reached an agreement to sustain ministerial interactions with the trade and investment sectors in both nations early next year.

British Columbia serves as India's largest trading partner in Canada, with bilateral trade expected to reach $2.1 billion in 2024, accounting for approximately 25% of Canada’s exports to India, as noted by Kahlon. The region boasts 12,000 tech firms and is home to the nation’s fastest-growing life sciences sector.

Eby recently pointed out that a trade mission to Asia yielded significant projects, including LNG Phase 2, which is anticipated to finalize its investment decision this year.

India is actively engaged in discussions for equitable trade agreements with 14 countries or groups representing almost 50 nations, including the United States, European Union, GCC countries, New Zealand, Israel, Eurasia, Canada, South Africa, and the Mercosur group.