Team Canada Trade Mission to India

To be considered for the trade mission, Canadian SMEs must clearly demonstrate how they meet the following criteria:

• operate in one of the trade mission’s eligible sub-sectors outlined under sectoral eligibility and opportunities; companies operating in multiple eligible sub-sectors must select a single sub-sector that best reflects their interests in the Indian market
• be export-ready with demonstrated potential for success in the Indian market:
  • have a commercialized product or service
  • target India as part of their international business plan
  • have allocated significant resources (human, material, time and financial) toward internationalization
  • have conducted research on the target market and opportunities
  • demonstrate that their product or service will generate economic benefits for Canada, such as job creation or increased production in Canada
• meet the eligibility criteria to qualify as a client of the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)

To be considered for this trade mission, large businesses, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other Canadian organizations must clearly demonstrate that they:

• are strategically aligned with the trade mission's priority sub-sectors
• can contribute to fostering partnerships, knowledge exchange or economic development
• can bring demonstrable value to the trade mission through expertise, resources or collaboration opportunities

Although the mission is tailored to specific sub-sectors, large organizations with significant resources and a validated track-record in India operating in other sectors may be accepted on the delegation.

Professional service firms and consultancies whose primary business involves serving Canadian clients may be considered on a case-by-case basis if their international business development objectives align strategically with the trade mission. However, firms offering visa or immigration services, or those facilitating business establishment in Canada are ineligible. Further, organizations that distribute or re-export products that are primarily of non-Canadian origin, or have limited transformation in Canada, are also out of scope for this mission.

Companies are eligible to apply under the aerospace and space sector if they operate in one of the following sub-sectors:

• aerospace manufacturing
• simulation and training
• maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) and sustainment solutions
• satellites, including communications and imagery

India’s aerospace sector is developing quickly, supported by rising passenger demand, a growing domestic aviation market, fleet expansion, and increased defence spending. Aerospace technologies also play an increasingly important role in responsible urban development through earth observation, environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, disaster preparedness, transportation management, and smart-city applications. The market is projected to rapidly grow, creating opportunities for Canadian aerospace companies across the value chain. India’s push to develop domestic capabilities in both civil and defence segments through innovation and skills development, combined with increasing participation from global OEMs, is driving demand for high-quality suppliers, technology providers, and specialized service firms.

India's space sector also presents growing opportunity, being projected to grow from USD $8.4 billion to USD $44 billion by 2033, with satellite communications alone expected to reach USD $14.8 billion. IN-SPACe, India's single-window space regulator, now licenses private firms for satellite operations, ground stations, and data dissemination, enabling private sector participation in areas previously limited to government actors. Demand for satellite imagery services is also accelerating, driven by defence requirements, government digitization programs, and a growing ecosystem of analytics start-ups.

Canadian firms with capabilities in satellite technologies, communications, aerospace manufacturing, and geospatial services are well-positioned to pursue partnerships, investment opportunities, and supply-chain integration in a market expected to be a major driver of global space-sector growth. This includes firms with dual-use capabilities in sensors, communications, navigation systems, advanced materials, and cyber-secure aerospace solutions may also find partnership opportunities with both Indian aerospace and non-aerospace companies.

Companies are eligible to apply under the clean technologies and energy transition sector if they operate in one of the following sub-sectors:

• clean energy
• water and wastewater

India is one of the world’s fastest growing energy markets, with demand projected to more than double by 2040. Despite progress on the energy transition, India remains heavily reliant on coal and imported oil and natural gas, making energy security a core policy priority. Ongoing conflict and instability in the Middle East have heightened India’s exposure to supply disruptions and price volatility, reinforcing the importance of diversifying energy sources, securing long term supply arrangements, and strengthening domestic energy resilience across conventional and low carbon fuels. Clean energy opportunities span renewable power generation, energy storage, critical minerals and battery supply chains, and related digital solutions that support the energy transition.

India’s rapid urbanization and industrial growth is also driving demand for water and wastewater technologies. For instance, less than 50% of wastewater is treated in India and solutions to increase treatment levels are being sought—which in turn creates opportunities for Canadian firms, including technologies for membrane filtration, leak detection, biological treatment, water reuse, digital and smart water management, and contaminant removal, as municipalities and industry seek to improve water efficiency and treatment capacity.

These opportunities are particularly relevant as Indian cities seek solutions to address air quality, water security, waste management, energy efficiency, and climate resilience as part of broader urban development strategies.

Companies are eligible to apply under the ICT sector if they operate in one of the following sub-sectors:

• cybersecurity
• artificial intelligence
• semiconductors

India's digital economy is expanding rapidly, driven by large-scale digital public infrastructure, widespread cloud adoption, and strong government support. As businesses, financial institutions, manufacturers, and government organizations accelerate their digital transformation efforts, demand is growing for secure, scalable and high-performance ICT solutions. Such technologies are also increasingly underpinning smart-city development across India.

Cybersecurity and AI remain particularly strong areas of opportunity for Canadian firms. India’s rapidly expanding digital connectivity, digitized public services, new data localization & sovereignty laws, and critical infrastructure modernization are creating strong demand for advanced Canadian solutions in areas such as threat detection, identity and access management, critical infrastructure protection, predictive analytics, automation, and generative AI. 

India also has strong capabilities relating to semiconductors, with major global firms operating R&D and design centres in the country. Canada has niche strengths that align with India’s capability gaps, particularly in compound semiconductors, photonics, and advanced AI and quantum-related technologies. Canada can also help address gaps in advanced packaging, specialty materials, and critical mineral inputs needed to support the growth of India’s semiconductor ecosystem. Opportunities across all three ICT subsectors exist not only in supply and services, but also in joint R&D, co-development, and commercialization partnerships, leveraging India’s scale and engineering talent alongside Canadian innovation.

Companies are eligible to apply under the life sciences sector if they operate in one of the following sub-sectors:

• biopharmaceuticals
• medical technologies (medtech)

Canada has become a global hub for pharmaceutical and medtech innovation, combining strengths in cutting‑edge research with advanced infrastructure and technologies. India presents many opportunities related to these strengths, driven by rising healthcare expenditures, an expanding middle class, increasing rates of chronic disease, significant investment in healthcare infrastructure, and urbanization. For instance, India’s medtech sector is rapidly expanding, yet it remains heavily reliant on imports for critical devices such as diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments, and high-end imaging technologies. With rising demand for affordable and advanced medical solutions, India is a fertile ground for Canadian companies offering such technologies.

Biopharmaceuticals is also a promising area for Canadian engagement. While India has established itself as a global leader in generic drug manufacturing, its biopharmaceutical sector is at an earlier stage of development, creating meaningful openings for Canadian expertise. There is growing demand for collaboration in biologics, vaccines, advanced therapeutics, and biomanufacturing technologies. Canadian firms are well positioned to contribute expertise in drug discovery, biomanufacturing, clinical trials, and quality-focused biopharmaceutical production.

Companies are eligible to apply under the forestry and wood products sector if they operate in one of the following sub-sectors:

• sawn wood and lumber materials
• engineered wood products
• pulp and paper products

India is an emerging, fast-growing market for Canadian softwood species. A strong domestic consumer base, rapid urbanization, and an expanding middle class are driving growth across India's wood products sector from lumber trading and furniture manufacturing, to doors, windows, and commercial interior fit-outs, to engineered wood and construction applications. As India's cities continue to grow, forestry and wood products can also contribute to responsible urban development, through sustainable construction materials, low-carbon building approaches, and innovative engineered wood products suited to commercial and residential applications. This growth is occurring as domestic timber supply and traditional species become less available, pushing manufacturers to seek alternative, sustainable fibre sources—an opening for Canadian species, particularly as sustainability certification becomes a more prominent purchasing consideration for premium Indian buyers and manufacturers.

Further, India is a major export market for Canadian pulp and paper products. Rapid urbanization and expanding middle class are driving pulp, tissue, and packaging paper demand. This also includes rising chemical woodpulp opportunities for the apparel and home textile industry.

Canada's reputation for sustainably managed forests, supported by strong certification credentials, continues to build market confidence and recognition in India.

Important: Opportunities for Canadian forestry and wood products in India are still emerging, and B2B meetings cannot be guaranteed. This is primarily a market-learning opportunity to better understand market potential, regulatory and commercial requirements, and industry dynamics, through engagements with relevant industry associations and government stakeholders that can support ongoing and future market development efforts.

Companies are eligible to apply under the agri-food sector if they operate within the following sub-sector: 

• value-added food products and ingredients

India's agriculture and food sector is undergoing rapid transformation, creating opportunities for Canadian agri-food companies. Rising incomes, urbanization, changing consumer preferences, and increasing demand for safe, high-quality food are driving growth throughout the food value chain.

Agrifood opportunities are expanding beyond Canada's established role as a leading and trusted supplier of pulses. India's growing food manufacturing and retail sectors are generating demand for premium grains, oilseeds, specialty crops, food ingredients, plant proteins, and value-added food products. Continued investment in food processing, logistics, and cold-chain infrastructure is further supporting market growth.