Sunday January 18, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 3:38 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
B C Premier David Eby spoke to reporters remotely on January 15 from Mumbai, India during his six-day trade mission.
He was speaking via Zoom from Mumbai, which he described as a modern ‘skyscraper city’.
Meetings were held with government officials including the Indian Minister of Energy, Eby pointed out in his verbal summary during the media call.
“The big winner has been the mining sector,” said Eby. All the meetings have included discussion of mining opportunities in BC, said Eby. BC is to perform as ‘matchmaker’ between investment partners, said Eby as to Indian business expectations.
Also on the January 12 to 17 mission was Ravi Kahlon, BC Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth whose language skills facilitated meetings in four cities including strengthening partnerships in Karnataka (aka India’s Silicon Valley) to advance collaboration in life sciences, technology and innovation.
“I’m very glad I’m here,” said Eby in the media call. “These are opportunities that the companies were not aware of,” said Eby with regard to what was discussed and explored.
Eby said that mining and energy companies in India are showing an interest in BC, especially the use of LNG as a way to reduce smog in India. Roundtables with BC and Indian companies identified opportunities for trade and investment including agriculture.
Information technology is B.C.’s top investment sector in India. There was also some promotion of Web Summit Vancouver 2026 which positions BC as a global tech hub.
- BC is home to a thriving innovation ecosystem, including more than 12,000 tech companies and leadership in AI, quantum computing and clean technology.
- Leading BC companies such as Telus, Lululemon and Pani Energy operate in Bengaluru, creating more than 1,400 high-paying jobs.
- BC currently has four trade and investment offices in India, attached to Canadian missions in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh.
Partnerships:
The partnerships developed by BC last week in India are intended to help BC’s technology and life-sciences sectors pursue joint opportunities that leverage BC’s research excellence and Karnataka’s deep pools of engineering talent, entrepreneurship and global scale.
In Bengaluru, a letter of intent (LOI) was signed between the Province and the state government of Karnataka. The LOI expresses mutual interest to collaborate in life sciences, biotechnology, medical technology, medical devices and digital health.
The “Silicon Valley of India”. Bengaluru contributes more than 43% to Karnataka’s economy and hosts more than 40% of India’s Global Capability Centres. Its economy is driven by information technology, biotechnology, aerospace and electric-vehicle manufacturing.
“BC’s technology and life sciences businesses are second to none, and in the face of US tariffs, we are strengthening our economy by deepening trade and investment relationships with diverse, reliable partners,” Kahlon said in a news release on January 16.
“Bengaluru is the tech capital of India. Its rapid growth and innovation ecosystem make it an important partner for B.C.’s emerging sectors. These relationships create new opportunities for collaboration, investment and shared success,” says Kahlon.
Joint innovation:
India’s scale, talent pool and fast-growing technology sector create major opportunities for joint innovation that complements B.C.’s world-class strengths in life sciences and technology, says Kahlon.
Together, B.C. and Karnataka offer highly compatible innovation ecosystems that can accelerate growth for both regions.
“Global collaboration drives commercial success in life sciences,” said Wendy Hurlburt, president and CEO, Life Sciences BC.
“Strengthening trade and investment ties with high-growth markets like India, one of the world’s largest economies, is critical to accelerating innovation, scaling our companies internationally and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of Canada’s life-sciences sector,” says Hurlburt.
Letter of intent signed between B.C. and Karnataka:
The letter of intent commits the governments to:
- Life sciences and biotechnology collaboration
* Facilitating collaboration in biotechnology, biopharma, medical technoloigy, medical devices, digital health and related emerging areas through exchanges, partnerships and ecosystem linkages - Innovation, trade and investment linkages
* Encouraging two-way trade, investment and industry development by supporting business-to-business connections and startup engagement, as well as participation in relevant innovation and technology events - Knowledge exchange and ecosystem engagement
* Promoting knowledge-sharing through workshops, delegations, policy dialogues and institutional linkages between innovation ecosystems, research institutions, startups and industry stakeholders in both regions
Government-to-government collaboration:
In Bengaluru, Kahlon met with Sri Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda, chairman of Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS) and Honourable Member of Legislative Assembly of Karnataka.
Discussions focused on expanding economic collaboration between B.C. and Karnataka’s life sciences, technology and innovation ecosystems.
Positioning B.C. as a global tech hub:
Kahlon held roundtables with B.C. companies doing business in India, including Telus Digital Services, Lululemon, EarthDaily Analytics and Yactraq Online, to discuss accomplishments, opportunities and challenges to operating in India, and potential supports from the Province.
Kahlon held a roundtable with Indian technology companies to position BC as a global hub for innovation and technology, and to promote Web Summit Vancouver 2026 as a gateway for international collaboration.
The discussion further strengthened ties with India’s fast-growing technology sectors, and showcased B.C.’s strengths in academic-industry leadership, government support programs and innovation ecosystems.
After meeting with officials in Bengaluru, it was agreed to share research and collaboration between Bengaluru and BC companies, and foster relationships and investments between Bengaluru and BC. In addition, a delegation from Bengaluru agreed to explore travelling to Web Summit Vancouver 2026.
Look West:
All this work supports the Province’s Look West industrial and economic plan, and aligns with BC’s trade diversification strategy, which focuses on delivering major projects quicker, diversifying markets and growing targeted sectors such as technology, life sciences, aerospace, marine, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum, agriculture and construction innovation.
===== RELATED:
- Eby & Kahlon undertaking trade diversification mission to India (January 6, 2026)
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