India–Canada Ties Enter a Next Level Partnership: PM Modi

• India, Canada aim to raise bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030
• CEPA to be finalised; defence dialogue to be launched
• MoU signed on critical minerals, push for AI, quantum, semiconductors
• Focus on clean energy, nuclear cooperation and Indo-Pacific partnership

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd March: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India and Canada have decided to transform their ties into a “Next Level Partnership”, setting an ambitious target of $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Addressing a joint press statement with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, PM Modi welcomed his counterpart on his first official visit to India and described it as a “significant milestone” in bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister said the two leaders had agreed to finalise the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the earliest to unlock the full potential of economic cooperation. He noted that Canadian pension funds have already invested $100 billion in India, reflecting deep confidence in India’s growth trajectory.

Highlighting shared democratic values, PM Modi said both countries celebrate diversity and are committed to the welfare of humanity. He added that discussions focused on elevating cooperation across sectors including trade, technology, energy, defence and people-to-people ties.

On technology collaboration, the Prime Minister said India and Canada are “natural partners” in innovation. He thanked Canada for its contribution to the recent AI Impact Summit in India and announced plans to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, supercomputing and semiconductors.

An MoU on critical minerals was signed to strengthen resilient supply chains. The two sides also agreed to expand collaboration in the space sector by linking startups and industries from both nations.

In the energy domain, PM Modi said the partnership would extend beyond hydrocarbons to renewable energy, green hydrogen and energy storage. He welcomed Canada’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance and announced that the India-Canada Renewable Energy and Storage Summit would be held later this year.

The Prime Minister described the long-term uranium supply agreement in civil nuclear energy as a landmark step and said both sides would also cooperate on Small Modular Reactors and advanced reactor technologies.

In agriculture, the two leaders agreed to establish an India-Canada Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence in India to promote value addition, agri-technology and food security.

Defence and security cooperation will be strengthened through collaboration in defence industries, maritime domain awareness and military exchanges. The two sides also decided to institute an India-Canada Defence Dialogue.

People-to-people ties, PM Modi said, remain the “real strength” of the relationship. Several new university partnerships in AI, healthcare, agriculture and innovation were announced. The two countries also agreed to facilitate Canadian universities opening campuses in India. An MoU was signed to enhance cultural exchanges, particularly involving Indigenous and tribal communities.

On the Indo-Pacific, PM Modi welcomed Canada’s interest in becoming a Dialogue Partner in the Indian Ocean Rim Association, noting it would add depth to maritime cooperation.

The Prime Minister said terrorism, extremism and radicalisation pose serious challenges to both countries and reaffirmed close cooperation to combat these threats.

Referring to global tensions, including the situation in West Asia, PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes and emphasised the safety of Indian citizens in the region.

Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister said the visit had infused fresh energy into the partnership and expressed confidence that India-Canada ties would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.