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India and Canada are expanding official exchanges as they work toward a free trade agreement, with recent discussions focusing on small businesses and commercial dispute resolution.
Canada’s International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu, visited India earlier this month before traveling to several ASEAN countries. He is expected to lead a Canadian delegation to India next month.
Last week, Bharat Khera, secretary of India’s Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), led a delegation to the Greater Toronto Area. The group met Canadian officials and organizations to exchange practices and technical expertise in online dispute resolution and explore closer cooperation between the two countries’ small business sectors. India’s consul general in Toronto, Mahaveer Singhvi, accompanied the delegation to several meetings.
The delegation met Michael Schafler, president of the ADR Institute of Canada, and his team to discuss alternative dispute resolution, legal processes and grievance mechanisms. The talks also covered ways to resolve commercial disputes more quickly and effectively. Participants emphasized the role of accessible dispute-resolution systems in supporting small businesses and building investor confidence.
In a meeting with Nina Tangri, Ontario’s associate minister of small business, the delegation discussed policy support, market access and institutional cooperation between India and the province. The talks addressed how regulatory policies and continued government engagement could create more opportunities for small businesses in both places.
At Toronto Metropolitan University’s Legal Innovation Zone, the delegation met Director Dr. Sasha Saunders and her team. They discussed digital dispute-resolution tools and other legal technology designed to make legal services more accessible to small enterprises. Such tools could help reduce the cost and time involved in resolving disputes.
The delegation also visited the City of Mississauga’s IDEA Innovation Unit. Discussions there focused on how data, innovation and collaboration can support local entrepreneurs. The two sides exchanged approaches to city-led programs and explored opportunities for knowledge-sharing, training and institutional partnerships.
The visits are part of India’s efforts to strengthen international ties and help its MSMEs reach new markets and participate in global supply chains.
