MUMBAI: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday afternoon, marking the beginning of a high-profile visit aimed at revitalizing diplomatic and trade relations between India and Canada. This is Carney’s first official visit to India since succeeding Justin Trudeau, and it forms a key part of his nine-day Asian tour.
The primary agenda of the visit is to breathe new life into the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has been stalled for years. On March 2, Carney will hold formal talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. A landmark $2.8 billion uranium supply deal to fuel India’s growing nuclear energy sector is expected to be signed during the summit. Additionally, Carney is exploring massive investment opportunities for Canadian pension funds in India’s infrastructure sector.
The visit signals a significant thaw in relations that were previously strained by issues surrounding Khalistani separatism and the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case. The shift began after Carney took office and extended an invitation to PM Modi for the G7 summit in Alberta last year. Amidst the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s new trade policies, both nations are looking to reduce their over-reliance on the American market. Canada aims to boost bilateral trade with India to $70 billion by 2030. Following his India tour, Carney is scheduled to visit Australia and Japan.
