New Delhi, Nov 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney held a productive meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit on Sunday, agreeing to unlock new potential for cooperation across defence, space, technology, and energy. This marks the leaders’ second meeting this year, following their June interaction during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
Stronger Bilateral Momentum
PM Modi said the two leaders “appreciated the significant momentum in bilateral ties” since their previous meeting.
“We agreed to further advance relations in trade, investment, technology and innovation, energy and education,” he noted in a social media post.
India–Canada bilateral trade crossed $30 billion in 2024, with Canada ranking as India’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner. Both leaders reaffirmed the target of doubling trade to $50 billion by 2030. Modi also highlighted the growing interest of Canadian pension funds in Indian companies.
Defence and Space: New Areas of Strategic Push
A key outcome of the talks was a commitment to deepen cooperation in defence and space, with both sides agreeing to identify new initiatives under these strategic sectors. The leaders also agreed to meet again soon to review progress.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that both leaders welcomed the launch of the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership, which will boost trilateral cooperation in:
- critical technologies
- nuclear energy
- supply chain diversification
- artificial intelligence
CEPA Negotiations to Resume
The two Prime Ministers agreed to initiate negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at accelerating trade growth and achieving the $50 billion target by 2030.
They also reaffirmed India-Canada civil nuclear cooperation and noted ongoing discussions on expanding collaboration, including long-term uranium supply arrangements.
Support for India’s AI Summit
Prime Minister Carney extended support for the AI Summit India will host in February 2026. The two sides also underscored the importance of regular high-level engagements to sustain diplomatic momentum.
PM Modi invited Carney to visit India, reinforcing efforts to normalise relations after a turbulent phase in 2023 following former PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar — accusations India dismissed as “absurd.”
Recent Diplomatic Engagements
The meeting follows a series of high-level interactions between the two nations:
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Niagara.
- Anand visited India earlier this year, unveiling a new roadmap to deepen cooperation in critical minerals, trade, and energy.
- Canada’s Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu also visited India to explore pathways for expanding trade ties.
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