India and Canada held the inaugural India–Canada Migration and Mobility Dialogue in New Delhi to strengthen bilateral cooperation on migration and people-to-people movement. The meeting established a regular framework for discussions on student mobility, skilled workers, professionals, business visitors and migration management.
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (CPV & OIA) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ted Gallivan, Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), co-chaired the meeting. Officials from relevant ministries and agencies of both countries also participated.
India–Canada Dialogue Establishes Cooperation Framework
During the meeting, both sides signed the Terms of Reference for the Migration and Mobility Dialogue. They reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people ties in bilateral relations and recognised the potential complementarity between India’s young, skilled workforce and Canada’s demographic and labour-market needs.
The two countries agreed to hold the dialogue annually and established a Joint Working Group on Migration and Mobility to support continued engagement. The framework will provide a regular platform for both governments to discuss mobility priorities and strengthen cooperation on related issues.
Discussions Cover Students and Skilled Professionals
The discussions covered the movement of students, skilled workers, professionals and business visitors, along with cooperation on migration management. Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting in Canada on mutually convenient dates.
The inaugural dialogue marks a step towards structured engagement between India and Canada on migration and mobility. Follow-up measures under the new framework will shape cooperation on facilitating legitimate movement for students, professionals and skilled workers.
