In an appeal to companies from both nations to deepen engagement as New Delhi pressed for stronger economic collaboration with Ottawa, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday referred to India and Canada as reliable democratic partners.

Together with Canadian Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, Goyal spoke at the opening Ministerial Plenary Session in Toronto, “From Political Reset to Commercial Delivery,” where he said that India and Canada have “tremendous complementarity” and great prospects for future growth.

“We observe excellent complementarity between our two economies. “We perceive enormous potential in elevating this connection to the next level,” Goyal stated.

According to the minister, India dispatched its “largest ever delegation to leave the shores of India” to Toronto in order to show New Delhi’s determination to resume economic growth with Canada.

In his speech, Goyal highlighted diversity as the defining characteristic of the bilateral relationship by beginning with greetings in numerous Indian languages.

“Diversity is the foundation of the relationship between Canada and India,” he stated, adding that the relationship demonstrated how “the people of these two very significant and vital economies and enterprises, vibrant democracies, trust one another, believe in one another, and want to engage with one another. ”

The alliance was based on democratic institutions and mutual trust among people, businesses, and governments, he added.

He stated that “the strong roots in our two democracies, where we believe very powerful institutions uphold the rule of law,” continue to be the relationship’s fundamental strength.

Using a personal analogy, Goyal emphasized the necessity for long-term engagement and trust-building, alluding to the recent strains in bilateral ties.

“Even if there are a few misunderstandings and disagreements, marriages last forever. “Relationships, friendships, partnerships, and marriages should all be fostered,” he stated.

“A message of mutual respect, trust, and friendship” should be conveyed through the two-day commercial event, according to Goyal.

He emphasized that the Indian delegation was broadly representative, stating that it included participants from “different industries, chambers, and regions of India. ”

In order to draw a comparison between the two countries’ top business centers, Goyal said, “I come from Mumbai. It’s arguably like Toronto, the financial and commercial center of India.

Following the conference, Goyal wrote in an X post that he had urged Canadian enterprises and industry leaders to become “active participants in India’s growth story. ” He added that the suggested Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would be a “key catalyst” in increasing bilateral trade and investment connections.

Important economic interests in areas such as critical minerals, agriculture, education, technology, and energy are shared by the two nations. Before slowing in the middle of the diplomatic dispute, conversations about a larger trade deal, which included CEPA, had advanced through numerous rounds.