British Columbia Premier David Eby and Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon are gearing up for a trade mission to India in a bid to boost local businesses and industries amidst global uncertainties. Eby highlighted the significance of strengthening ties with India, a country poised to become the world’s third-largest economy. The delegation is set to engage with government and business leaders in key cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru.
According to Kahlon, B.C. stands as India’s top trade partner in Canada, with bilateral trade reaching $2.1 billion in 2024, accounting for a quarter of Canada’s exports to India. The upcoming trade mission aims to address challenges stemming from U.S. tariffs, particularly in the forestry sector, which has been adversely impacted. The delegation will also champion opportunities in clean energy, mining, and the tech industry.
Highlighting B.C.’s thriving tech landscape, Kahlon noted the province’s 12,000 tech companies and its rapidly growing life sciences sector. Eby emphasized the importance of diversifying trade partnerships, referencing a successful recent trade mission to Asia that yielded major projects, including LNG Phase 2.
In the midst of ongoing political issues, Eby expressed concerns over the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., and the allegations made by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the Indian government’s involvement. Eby underscored the importance of collaboration between federal and subnational governments on shared concerns while focusing on boosting local industries impacted by global trade dynamics.
Responding to recent developments in Venezuela, Eby diverged from calls for a new pipeline through B.C.’s North, advocating instead for increased investment in the Trans Mountain pipeline and a focus on domestic oil and gas production. He emphasized the potential benefits of investing in a refinery using public funds to support Canadian interests in the current global economic climate.