OTTAWA, Ontario — The recent visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India is seen as a significant step towards revitalizing Canada-India relations, according to India’s Trade Minister Piyush Goyal. These ties had become tense following the 2023 assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.
Goyal made these comments during his visit to Canada, where he met with Canada’s International Trade Minister and was set to meet with Carney shortly after. Goyal emphasized the importance of negotiating a free trade agreement with India, stating it could be transformative for Canadian businesses and workers as it opens up a vast new market.
In a social media post, Carney noted, “We’re negotiating a free trade deal with India. We’re making quick progress.” He expressed enthusiasm over discussing future opportunities in energy, agriculture, technology, and education during his meeting with Minister Goyal.
Accompanying Goyal is a delegation of over 100 senior representatives from various sectors in India, marking New Delhi’s largest-ever business group visit to Canada. Goyal reflected on the rapid shift in partnership, stating, “This is a partnership that is being reset very quickly.”
He highlighted that Carney’s visit in February was the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years and noted it had changed how both nations view each other. “It has initiated a complete transformation of this relationship with new goals in sight,” he added.
Trade discussions between India and Canada have been ongoing since 2010 but were halted in 2023 due to allegations from Canadian authorities regarding India’s involvement in the death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. India denied these claims and accused the previous Canadian administration of harboring Sikh extremists linked to the Khalistan movement, which is illegal in India.
Ahead of a meeting with Carney, Goyal expressed optimism about reaching a free trade agreement this year. During Carney’s visit to India, he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed multiple agreements, including a significant $2.6 billion deal to provide uranium for India’s nuclear energy needs.
Trade discussions are active, with a previous Canadian delegation visiting New Delhi and plans for another Indian delegation to come to Canada later in the year. Goyal highlighted a mutual goal: to triple bilateral trade to $50 billion USD by 2030.
In Ottawa, Goyal also met with key Canadian officials and is scheduled to engage with company leaders and investment funds. Vina Nadjibulla from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada noted that both countries are eager to diversify their trade relationships and lessen their reliance on the United States, which some partners are now viewing as unpredictable.
India is also looking to strengthen ties with other Western economies, having recently signed trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Nadjibulla remarked, “India is pivoting towards Europe and other markets like Australia and Canada to fulfill its needs for capital, technology, and innovation.”
