ASSOCHAM India–Canada Roundtable discusses trade, investment and skills collaboration
New Delhi: 09.03.2026
Strengthening economic and knowledge partnerships between India and Canada was the focus of the India–Canada Roundtable organised by ASSOCHAM, which brought together policymakers, industry leaders and academic institutions from both countries to explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Ms. Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business, Government of Ontario, highlighted the growing importance of the India–Canada economic relationship. She noted that both economies share strong entrepreneurial energy and innovation potential, and that there are significant opportunities to expand cooperation across sectors such as digital innovation, clean technologies and advanced manufacturing.
Speaking at the roundtable, Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra, Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Education and Co-Founder & Chancellor of Shobhit University, emphasised that education and skills partnerships can play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between the two countries.
ASSOCHAM Roundtable
He observed that as the global higher-education landscape navigates a changing policy and mobility environment, it is an opportune moment to move beyond student mobility towards deeper collaboration in research, skills development, innovation and institutional partnerships.
“India brings scale and youthful talent through one of the world’s largest higher-education ecosystems, while Canada brings globally respected strengths in research universities and applied learning institutions. If these complementary strengths are aligned, they can open new avenues of cooperation,” he said.
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Vijendra further remarked that trade agreements create markets and investment creates opportunity, but education and innovation partnerships create the future.
The roundtable was also addressed by Mr. Ed Jager, Trade Commissioner of Canada to India; Mr. Anil K. Agarwal, Past President, ASSOCHAM; Mr. Prashant Srivastava, President, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC); and ASSOCHAM Secretary General Col. Saurabh Sanyal, who shared perspectives on strengthening business, industry and institutional engagement between the two countries.On the occasion, Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Hon’ble Minister Nina Tangri as a gesture reflecting India’s civilisational wisdom and cultural heritage.
