Canada-India relations

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• Bilateral relations
• Trade relations
• Development
• Partnerships and organizations

Bilateral relations

Canada and India share over 75 years of diplomatic relations and deep people-to-people ties. Bilateral relations were formally designated as a “Strategic Partnership” in 2018, structured around Ministerial Dialogues on:

• Foreign Policy
• Trade and Investment
• Finance
• Energy

At the officials level, there are regular working groups that focus on:

• Counter-terrorism
• Security
• Agriculture
• Education
• Science and Technology

India is Canada’s largest source country for most immigration categories, including 392,810 study permit holders with Indian citizenship in Canada in 2024. As of the 2021 federal census, there are more than 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin.

In India, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi. Canada has Consulates General in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai, as well as trade offices in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

India is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Ottawa and by Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver.

Trade relations

India is a key partner as Canada strengthens its economic links to the Indo-Pacific under a comprehensive strategy for the region.

In 2024, India was Canada’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade coming to $30.9 billion.

In that year, Canada’s merchandise exports to India were $5.3 billion, increasing by 3.3% from 2023.

Top 5 merchandise products exports to India:

1. Vegetables ($1.4 billion; 26.5% of total merchandise exports)
2. Mineral fuels and oils ($767 million; 14.5% of total merchandise exports)
3. Wood pulp ($518 million; 9.8% of total merchandise exports)
4. Fertilizers ($411 million; 7.8% of total merchandise exports)
5. Paper and paperboard ($304 million; 5.7% of total merchandise exports)

In 2024, Canada’s merchandise imports from India were $8.0 billion, increasing by 6.6% from 2023.

Top 5 merchandise products imports from India:

1. Pharmaceutical products ($852 million; 10.6% of total merchandise imports)
2. Machinery ($807 million; 10.1% of total merchandise imports)
3. Electronics ($640 million; 8.0% of total merchandise imports)
4. Precious stones and metals ($529 million; 6.6% of total merchandise imports)
5. Iron or steel products ($378 million; 4.7% of total merchandise imports)

For trade in services (2024):

• Exports to India: $16.1 billion
• Imports from India: $3.5 billion

Canada’s commercial priorities in India are targeted at the country’s policy objectives and sectors where Canada has a comparative advantage. These include:

• Agriculture and Value-Added Food, with a focus on value-added products and expertise in food supply and cold chain management and technologies.
• Clean Technology, with a focus on water and sewage treatment and renewable energy, including bioenergy, wind, hydro and solar.
• Digital Industries / Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning / Internet of Things (IoT).
• Infrastructure, with a focus on Roads/Rail/Airports/Ports/Dams and Services.

Canada’s International Trade Minister and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister convene a biennial Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment to explore ways to deepen the commercial relationship.

Canada and India have a positive record of collaboration on science, technology and innovation-related research through public, private and academic entities. This relationship is underpinned by the Canada-India Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in 2005 and supported by a Joint Science and Technology Coordination Committee (JSTCC). The 7th meeting of the JSTCC took place in Ottawa in May 2022 and concluded with the signing of a Joint Statement committing to strengthen collaboration in areas such as researcher mobility, nanotechnology, health research, sustainable infrastructure and clean technology.

Canada’s first Air Transport Agreement with India was concluded in 1982 and was last expanded in 2022. The Agreement allows Canadian and Indian air carriers to operate an unlimited number of weekly flights between specific cities in the two countries. Canadian air carriers are granted access to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, and Indian air carriers access to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional points to be selected by India. Other cities in both countries can be served indirectly through code-share services.

Free trade negotiations between Canada and India have been pursued periodically since 2010.

Related links

• Joint Statement issued at conclusion of the 6th Canada-India Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment
• Joint Press Release: The 7th India-Canada Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee Meeting
• Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations

Development

Canada’s bilateral development program ended in 2006 following a change in Indian government policy on aid. Canada provided $2.4 billion in international assistance over a 56-year period.

Canada continues to provide international assistance to India through partnerships between Indian and Canadian NGOs and academic institutions; multilateral programs; and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). In fiscal year 2023-2024, Canada provided $39.41M in international assistance to India via all channels.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and India work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

• Pacific Alliance
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)