By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday arrived in India on official visit to India which marked his first official visit since assuming office, media reported.
The relations between New Delhi and Ottawa became strained during the previous administration, signaling a renewed push to stabilize and strengthen diplomatic and economic engagement.
According to a statement from the Carney’s office, Carney will be on a 3 nation visit to India, Australia, and Japan from February 26 to March 7.
The visit to 3 nations are Canada’s strongest Indo-Pacific partners, Carney aims to deepen regional ties that are critical to its security and prosperity.
He will travel to Mumbai to meet business leaders and then hold high-level meetings in New Delhi, including talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2.
The discussions are expected to focus on expanding the Canada–India partnership through new collaborations in trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), talent mobility, culture, and defence.
Carney will meet leading business figures in Mumbai and New Delhi to explore investment opportunities and foster partnerships between Canadian and Indian companies.
“In a more divided and uncertain world, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control. We are building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy. We are building our strength at home, diversifying our trade abroad, and attracting massive new international investment.
India remains one of Canada’s most important trading partners.
In 2024, India was Canada’s 7th largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade between the two countries totaled USD 30.8 billion.
Modi and Carney agreed to formally launch negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement during 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit.
The proposed agreement seeks to more than double bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030.
India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is viewed by Ottawa as a powerhouse in global commerce and technology.
Carney’s visit would be the biggest turning point in Canada-India relations, with both sides looking to elevate cooperation after shifting global economic and geopolitical dynamics.
