The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) has concluded its impactful India Trade Mission (March 8–14, 2026), facilitating significant opportunities for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage with India’s extensive network of over 500,000 businesses.
Covering New Delhi, Chandigarh, and Mumbai, the week-long delegation of more than 25 delegates convened with senior government officials, industry leaders, and academic representatives through strategic roundtables, executive meetings, MoU signings, and targeted B2B sessions—affirming ICCC’s role as a catalyst for bilateral economic advancement.
Business Expansion and Strategic Partnership Facilitation
The mission commenced with a prominent “Doing Business in India” seminar featuring Hon. Nina Tangri, Associate Minister for Small Business; ICCC President Prashant Srivastava; Advisory Board Chair Kam Rathee; Vice Chair Murarilal Thapliyal; and legal experts Pranav Srivastava and Abhishek Saxena. This session provided Canadian SMEs with critical insights into India’s regulatory environment, investment framework, and principal growth sectors, including technology and renewable energy.
A notable achievement was the execution of multiple Memoranda of Understanding with key organizations such as ASSOCHAM, the Punjab Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Mohali Industries Association, World Trade Center, and the Trans Asian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI), laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration in trade, investment, innovation, and skills development.
The delegation was also honored at a reception hosted by Canada’s High Commissioner to India, Christopher Cooter, and Karen Blumenschein.
Government and Industry Engagements
High-level engagements included discussions with Hon. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, alongside senior officials Himani Pande, IAS, and Dr. Brij M. Mishra, IAS. Additional contacts encompassed Ambassador Sanjay Kumar Verma, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta (CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI), and Ed Jager (Minister Commercial, High Commission of Canada to India).
In Chandigarh, the group met Hon. Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Minister of Haryana, and Cabinet Minister Hardip Singh Mundian (Punjab), advancing initiatives in education, agriculture, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and skill development.
In Maharashtra, substantive dialogue occurred with Hon. Dattatreya Bharane, Agriculture Minister, and senior officials Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Suraj Mandhare, and Parimal Singh.
Supporting SMEs and Fostering Innovation
Through focused B2B interactions and sector-specific discussions, ICCC facilitated direct connections between Canadian and Indian SMEs, promoting joint ventures in areas such as agri-tech, AI-driven solutions, and supply chain transformation. Industry leadership was exemplified by contributions from SkysphereAI Labs, highlighting advanced applications of artificial intelligence.
The mission also underscored inclusive leadership during International Women’s Day, where Hon. Nina Tangri received the “Pride of India” Award from Member of Parliament Manoj Tewari, with MLA Harish Khurana in attendance.
Strengthening Academic and Innovation Ecosystems Partnerships were formed with WeSchool Mumbai, with significant input from Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Dr. Santosh Bhosale (Government of Maharashtra), and Haranjan Singh (Ontario Government), complemented by ICCC leadership. Trade and investment perspectives were enhanced by Anuj Bhasin (Trade Commissioner for Alberta) and
Andrew Maharaj (Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada). Engagement with industry figures such as Vijay Kalantri (World Trade Center Mumbai) and Ashish Chauhan (CEO, National Stock Exchange of India) reinforced avenues for investment and financial partnership.
Driving Long-Term Bilateral Progress
The ICCC India Trade Mission exemplified a thorough and outcome-oriented strategy to fortifying Canada–India relations. By connecting businesses, governmental bodies, and academic institutions—and through the stewardship of distinguished leaders—the ICCC continues to create scalable opportunities for SMEs and strengthen economic and strategic ties between both countries.
