Goyal Pushes India-Canada Dual Degree Cooperation

Synopsis:  Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urges Canada to introduce dual-degree programmes with Indian institutions to strengthen educational cooperation, academic mobility, and long-term bilateral ties amid renewed trade and economic discussions.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called on Canada to introduce dual-degree programmes with Indian institutions to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the education sector. Speaking at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto during his official visit to Canada, Goyal emphasized that educational partnerships can become a major pillar of India-Canada relations.

The minister highlighted India’s growing global influence in higher education, innovation, and technology-driven industries, while encouraging Canadian universities and academic institutions to collaborate more actively with Indian counterparts. According to Goyal, dual-degree programmes would allow students from both nations to gain international exposure, improve academic mobility, and create stronger professional opportunities in emerging sectors.

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During his address, Goyal also underlined the importance of resetting political and economic ties between India and Canada. He noted that both countries possess complementary strengths and can benefit significantly from deeper cooperation in education, trade, technology, clean energy, and investment. The minister described India as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and invited Canadian institutions to participate in the country’s expanding education and innovation ecosystem.

The education-focused proposal comes amid renewed efforts by India and Canada to revive broader bilateral engagement, including negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both nations are aiming to increase bilateral trade substantially over the coming years while also improving collaboration in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

Goyal’s visit to Canada is part of a larger diplomatic and economic outreach initiative involving government officials, investors, business leaders, and academic institutions. The discussions are expected to pave the way for stronger institutional partnerships and long-term people-to-people ties between the two countries. The minister reiterated that education can serve as a foundation for building sustainable cooperation and fostering innovation-driven growth for future generations.