300-strong Canadian business delegation set for week-long tour of South India

Canada’s trade minister, accompanied by roughly 300 business representatives, is scheduled to land in India within the coming week. The delegation will spend a full week touring key cities in South India, engaging with local industry bodies and exploring partnerships in information technology, automotive manufacturing and other high‑growth sectors.

High Commissioner Christopher Coates described the mission as the most sizable Canadian trade entourage ever sent abroad, and certainly the largest ever to visit India. He highlighted that Canadian IT firms already employ close to one lakh professionals in India, while Indian companies provide employment to about 50,000 Canadians across various industries.

The visit is expected to reinforce the private‑sector momentum that has been building alongside government‑level talks on energy, migration and defence cooperation. Coates warned that the momentum will only accelerate once the free trade agreement is signed, potentially during Prime Minister Modi’s December trip.

Both governments are preparing a comprehensive framework for deeper economic engagement, aiming to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible trade and investment outcomes.