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India-Canada trade mission to improve mobility: VFS Global
The proposed CEPA is expected to expand trade, investment and professional mobility between India and Canada by the end of 2026.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 28, May 2026
- 18:04 EDT
- 32
VFS Global / Official logo
India’s trade outreach to Canada this week is expected to trigger a major increase in cross-border movement of students, professionals, entrepreneurs and investors, VFS Global said.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal led the largest-ever Indian business delegation to Canada during a three-day visit from May 25 to 27, holding meetings in Ottawa and Toronto with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and industry representatives from sectors including energy, aerospace, agriculture, technology and pharmaceuticals.
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Amit Kumar Sharma, head of Americas at VFS Global, said the renewed bilateral engagement could significantly increase mobility between the two countries.
“We are optimistic about, and indeed expect, an explosion in movement between these two nations: students, entrepreneurs, investors, skilled professionals, and families,” Sharma said.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to concluding a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026, with bilateral trade targeted to reach USD 50 billion by 2030.
The CEPA negotiations were formally launched during Carney’s visit to New Delhi in March 2026. Two rounds of technical discussions have already been completed, while a third round was held alongside Goyal’s visit this week in Ottawa.
The proposed agreement is expected to expand market access across goods, services, investment, digital trade and professional mobility. India and Canada are also exploring cooperation in sectors including energy security, agri-food, uranium supply, supply chains and advanced technology.
The discussions have also drawn attention to growing people-to-people movement between India and Canada, which is home to nearly three million people of Indian origin and receives thousands of Indian students and skilled workers annually.
The visit comes as India and Canada work to reset bilateral relations following tensions that disrupted trade talks in 2023. Canadian officials have described the proposed trade pact as a major opportunity for businesses and workers in both countries.
VFS Global, owned by Blackstone, provides outsourcing and technology services for governments and diplomatic missions. The company works with 71 client governments and operates more than 4,100 application centers across 168 countries, handling administrative processes related to visas, passports and consular services.
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