Introduction: India-Canada Trade Roadmap
New Delhi, October 13, 2025. In a major diplomatic and economic reset, India and Canada unveiled a “New Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation” following a meeting between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.
The initiative marks a decisive effort to revive bilateral relations strained in recent years, opening a new chapter of collaboration in trade, energy, critical minerals, technology, and security.
“The Ministers recognised that a strong and resilient Canada–India bilateral relationship is essential,” said a joint statement released by both governments.
A Diplomatic Reset After Two Years of Strain
The announcement represents the most concrete step yet in mending ties that had been frayed since 2023, when relations soured following allegations surrounding the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Diplomatic expulsions and a freeze in trade negotiations soon followed, stalling cooperation across multiple sectors.
Efforts toward normalization began earlier this year. High Commissioners were reinstated in August 2025, followed by National Security Adviser-level talks in September, which paved the way for Anand’s high-profile visit. Officials described the roadmap as a “continuation of the guidance” issued by PM Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during their brief meeting at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
Bilateral trade between the two nations reached $23.66 billion in 2024, underscoring the scale and stakes of the partnership. India is one of Canada’s fastest-growing trade partners in the Indo-Pacific, while Canada’s resource base and technological strengths align with India’s energy and development goals.
What the “New Roadmap” Includes
The India–Canada Roadmap 2025 outlines a broad matrix of initiatives designed to strengthen economic, energy, and strategic collaboration.
Trade & Investment Revival
- Ministerial-level discussions on bilateral trade and investment will begin “at the earliest opportunity,” the statement said.
- The Canada–India CEOs Forum is scheduled to reconvene in early 2026 to identify actionable measures for trade and investment expansion.
Energy Cooperation
- The Canada–India Ministerial Energy Dialogue (CIMED) will be re-established, focusing on clean energy, LNG and LPG trade, green hydrogen, power grid exchange, and carbon capture (CCUS) technologies.
- Renewed civil nuclear collaboration is on the agenda, including talks between Canada’s uranium suppliers and India’s Department of Atomic Energy.
Critical Minerals & Technology
- A new Critical Minerals Annual Dialogue will be launched, with its first meeting slated for March 2026 on the sidelines of the PDAC conference in Toronto.
- The Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee will be relaunched, promoting research in AI, digital infrastructure, and quantum technologies. Canadian researchers are expected to participate in India’s AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
Agriculture & Sustainable Supply Chains
- Both sides will deepen cooperation in agriculture, food-value chains, and sustainable supply chains, including agri-waste-to-energy and organic fertilizer initiatives.
People-to-People & Institutional Ties
- Education, research, and professional mobility are a renewed focus, with the Joint Working Group on Higher Education set for revival.
- Six Canadian provinces already maintain official representation in India, and both governments plan to deploy additional domain experts in economic, defense, and technology portfolios within their respective High Commissions to support the implementation of the roadmap.
Voices from the meeting
In his remarks, Jaishankar lauded the synergy between India and Canada: “When we look at Canada, we see a complementary economy, we see another open society, we see diversity and pluralism, and we believe that that is the basis for a close, sustainable and long-term cooperative framework.”
According to the Indian Express, Modi posted on X:
“Welcomed Canada’s Foreign Minister, Ms. Anita Anand. Discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, energy, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges for mutual growth and prosperity.”
These remarks reflect an effort to balance the roadmap between economic ambition and diplomatic sensitivity.
Leaders’ Remarks and Official Reactions
Speaking after she met with PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Anita Anand described the roadmap as a “reset grounded in respect, pragmatism, and shared opportunity.” She emphasized that both countries were “turning the page to a forward-looking partnership anchored in economic growth and democratic values.”
Indian officials echoed this optimism. An MEA spokesperson said the engagement “builds on mutual respect and mutual interest,” adding that India views Canada as a “reliable partner in critical minerals and energy transition.”
Strategic stakes & challenges
The sectors spotlighted energy, critical minerals, AI, and trade are not incidental. In the global transition toward clean energy and electric mobility, access to critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths) has become a structural bottleneck. Canada has rich mineral reserves and mining expertise; India is rapidly scaling its demand and industrial base. The roadmap is an attempt to align those strengths for mutual gain.
Trade and investment renewal is equally vital. The CEO Forum, trade ministers’ dialogues, and energy deals can help restart investment pipelines that stalled during the diplomatic chill.
Yet risks remain. Trust must be rebuilt. Canada must manage its domestic politics (diaspora pressures, free speech, security concerns). India, likewise, must balance strategic sensitivities around sovereignty and foreign interference. The reference to “respect for each other’s concerns and sensitivities” in the joint statement signals both sides are acutely aware of those undercurrents.
Why It Matters: Trade, Minerals, and Energy Security
For both nations, the roadmap’s focus areas align with strategic and economic imperatives:
- Critical minerals partnership: India’s surging demand for lithium, cobalt, and nickel, vital to its electric mobility and renewable energy goals, meets Canada’s resource and mining expertise.
- Energy transition: As India scales up its clean energy capacity, Canadian firms are eyeing LNG exports and joint ventures in green hydrogen and CCUS.
- Trade diversification: With global supply chains in flux, the roadmap allows both economies to reduce dependency on single markets and promote resilient linkages in sectors such as agri-tech, infrastructure, and AI.
In 2024, Canadian investment in India grew by 11%, while several Indian IT and infrastructure firms expanded operations across Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.
Security and Strategic Cooperation
The joint statement reaffirmed ongoing dialogue on law enforcement and counterterrorism, signaling continuity in sensitive security discussions. While both sides acknowledged “areas of difference,” officials said there is “a shared intent to address concerns through structured dialogue rather than public rhetoric.”
This balanced tone marks a departure from the charged exchanges of 2023, suggesting a pragmatic approach to rebuilding trust and functional cooperation.
Next Steps: Translating Words into Action
The roadmap serves as a framework for sustained engagement, with milestones stretching into 2026:
- Ministerial Trade & Investment talks expected before year-end.
- CEOs Forum reconvening in early 2026.
- Critical Minerals Dialogue in March 2026, Toronto.
- AI Impact Summit in February 2026, featuring Indo-Canadian collaboration.
Observers caution, however, that execution remains key. “The roadmap is promising but depends on political will and institutional delivery,” said a former Indian diplomat familiar with the talks.
A Forward-Looking Partnership
For New Delhi and Ottawa, the “New Roadmap” symbolizes more than just a policy paper; it’s an effort to rebuild trust between two major democracies and reintegrate cooperation into a multipolar, Indo-Pacific context.
If implemented effectively, the framework could redefine India–Canada trade cooperation, deepen critical minerals partnerships, and reinforce a shared commitment to sustainable growth and technological innovation.
As both governments seek to turn a page on recent turbulence, this roadmap may well chart a new direction for India–Canada relations grounded in pragmatism, energy security, and mutual opportunity.