Goyal to visit Canada, FTA talks in focus, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Piyush Goyal will lead a 150-member business delegation to Canada from May 25-27.
• The visit aims to boost investments and advance talks for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• Goyal will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his counterpart Maninder Sidhu.
• Discussions will include attracting investments from Canada's "Maple 8" pension funds, managing $2.4 trillion CAD.

Detailed Insights:

• The primary focus of the visit is to strengthen economic ties and explore potential collaborations between India and Canada.
• The proposed FTA seeks to reduce trade barriers and enhance economic cooperation across various sectors.
• "Maple 8" pension funds represent a significant investment opportunity for India, particularly in infrastructure and technology.
• Canada's strengths in resources like oil, gas, and critical minerals complement India's skilled workforce, fostering mutual growth.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Free Trade Agreement (FTA): An agreement between two or more countries to reduce or eliminate trade barriers.
• Maple 8: Canada's eight largest public pension funds, influential in global long-term investments.