India and Canada signed five commercial MoUs in Karnataka on Friday, with Canada’s trade minister Maninder Sidhu attending the ceremony. The agreements cover sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to aviation infrastructure and smart mobility, aiming to deepen supply‑chain ties and technology transfer.
The CEPA talks, which began in 2015, entered their fifth negotiation round in Ottawa from October 5–9, covering market access, investment rules, and intellectual‑property safeguards. An early‑November session in New Delhi is slated to follow, and both sides have reiterated a deadline of December 31, 2026.
Bilateral trade between the two nations hit ₹7,956.43 million in FY26, according to Commerce Ministry data. Analysts estimate the CEPA could lift that figure by $4.4 billion to $6.5 billion, while Canada projects a GDP gain of $3.8 billion to $5.9 billion by 2035.
Sidhu highlighted existing Canadian firms in India—Kinaxis, OpenText, CGI, and Genetec, among others—emphasizing that “companies of every size are succeeding here, and it always starts with a relationship.” He also toured Terminal 2 at Bengaluru airport, noting Canadian investment through Fairfax Financial and the work of Genetec and RBH Access on the expansion.
The next step: a New Delhi round in early November, where negotiators will decide on the final text of the CEPA. If approved, the pact could be signed by the end of 2026, setting the stage for a significant trade surge between India and Canada.