Canadian High Commissioner to India Christopher Cooter has said that India and Canada have never had a better relationship than they do now, citing positive engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. With ministerial visits and trade discussions underway, both countries are looking to deepen economic cooperation, advance trade negotiations and strengthen bilateral ties.
India-Canada Relations Focus on Trade and Investment
In an interview with IANS ahead of Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s visit to New Delhi, Cooter described the relationship between Modi and Carney as marked by “excellent” chemistry. He said the two leaders had met four times in just over a year, while officials continued regular discussions on bilateral and strategic issues.
Cooter said Anand’s visit would include discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, marking her 10th meeting with her Indian counterpart over the preceding year. Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu was also expected to visit India the following week with a delegation of around 300 Canadian business representatives. The delegation was scheduled to travel to Mumbai and Bengaluru, with participants also engaging in other cities.
According to Cooter, the visits would focus on advancing trade negotiations and strengthening business ties. Other areas of cooperation include energy, migration, defence and investment.
India and Canada Target Doubling Bilateral Trade by 2030
Both countries have set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030. Cooter acknowledged that trade remains below the level both sides would like to achieve but said businesses are increasingly exploring investment opportunities in areas such as energy and information technology.
He highlighted the contribution of companies from both countries to employment. Canadian companies operating in India, particularly in information technology, automobiles and other sectors, employ approximately 100,000 Indians. Meanwhile, Indian companies employ around 50,000 Canadians.
Cooter described the growing commercial engagement as the two economies “discovering each other” more closely, with businesses exploring opportunities to expand their presence in each other’s markets.
CEPA Negotiations Remain Central to Bilateral Ties
The two countries are advancing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Cooter said they were in the fifth round of official-level negotiations.
During his expected visit, Sidhu was scheduled to meet Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss accelerating the negotiations. Cooter also said the two sides hoped to sign their first free trade agreement during Prime Minister Modi’s expected visit to Canada in early December.
The anticipated visit would follow a series of ministerial engagements aimed at strengthening economic and diplomatic cooperation. However, the agreement remains subject to the outcome of negotiations and decisions by both governments.
Economic Priorities Create Scope for Cooperation
Cooter linked the renewed engagement to the economic priorities of both countries. India is pursuing its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, while Canada is seeking to diversify its trade relationships and attract investment in sectors including defence.
He referred to investment commitments announced at a Canadian investment conference and plans for increased defence spending. According to the envoy, India’s economic scale and Canada’s efforts to broaden its economic partnerships create opportunities for complementary growth.
Cooter also identified multilateral cooperation as another area of shared interest. He said both foreign ministers were expected to participate in discussions at the Bloomberg conference on geopolitical cooperation, multilateral engagement and defence ties. He also referred to the New Partnership for Multilateralism, established at the United Nations General Assembly, as a platform for potential cooperation.
The year 2027 will mark 80 years of diplomatic relations between India and Canada. With both governments pursuing closer engagement, CEPA negotiations and the target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030 remain key markers of the relationship’s direction.
