‘Agreed to build on positive momentum’: PM Modi speaks with Canada’s Carney ahead of FM Anita Anand’s India visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, expressing optimism about the state of India-Canada relations and the need to achieve concrete results in areas such as trade and energy. This discussion precedes Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand's visit to India, which begins on Tuesday.

During the call, both leaders discussed building upon the positive momentum in their Strategic Partnership, focusing on key areas including trade, energy, technology, security, and people-to-people ties. Prime Minister Modi conveyed these sentiments via a post on X, stating, "Together, India and Canada are contributing towards a more stable and prosperous world."

The conversation followed an interaction between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu. Goyal shared, "Discussed advancing the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations, with a focus on a balanced, mutually beneficial agreement that enhances market access & unlocks new trade and investment opportunities."

He expressed confidence that the CEPA would bolster bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

Sidhu, leading Canada's largest corporate delegation to visit India in three decades, highlighted that the delegation would focus on sectors such as aerospace, clean energy, technology, life sciences, agri-food, and forestry. Canada is also striving to broaden trade relations with one of the world's fastest-growing major markets. Sidhu underscored that negotiations for a Canada-India CEPA trade agreement are ongoing, with the aim of opening new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.