India–Canada Renew Strategic Partnership
Carney Forges Non-US Alliance
1.
High-Level Visit:
At the invitation of Narendra Modi, Mark Carney paid an official
visit to India (Feb 27–Mar 2, 2026) — the first bilateral visit by a Canadian
PM since 2018.
2.
Diplomatic Milestone:
The visit commemorated 79 years of diplomatic relations between India
and Canada, reaffirming shared democratic values, sovereignty, and rule
of law.
3.
Guiding Vision:
Leaders adopted “Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One
Future) as the framework for a renewed Strategic Partnership, aligning India’s Viksit Bharat vision with Canada’s Build Canada Strong agenda.
ONE EARTH
– Energy, Climate & Agriculture
4.
Strategic Energy Partnership Launched:
Agreement to deepen cooperation across clean energy, conventional energy, civil
nuclear energy, and critical minerals.
5.
Major Uranium Deal:
A CAD 2.6 billion agreement between Cameco and India’s Department of
Atomic Energy for long-term uranium supply to support India’s nuclear energy
program.
6.
Expanded Energy Trade:
Focus on LNG, LPG, crude oil, refined products, potash, and uranium. Canada
aims to produce 50 million tonnes of LNG annually by 2030, rising to 100
million tonnes by 2040.
7.
Critical Minerals Cooperation:
MoU signed to build resilient and diversified supply chains. India endorsed the
G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan.
8.
Clean Energy Collaboration:
MoU on cooperation in solar, wind, bioenergy, storage, and small hydro. A India–Canada Renewable Energy & Storage Summit
to be held in 2026.
9.
Global Platforms:
o
Canada intends to join the International Solar
Alliance.
o
Canada upgraded participation in the Global
Biofuels Alliance as Full Member.
10.
Agriculture & Nutrition:
Proposal for a Canada–India Pulse Protein Centre at NIFTEM Kundli,
leveraging Saskatchewan’s pulse expertise and India’s production strength.
ONE
FAMILY – Talent, Education & Cultural Ties
11.
Education & Talent Mobility:
Expansion of joint/dual degree programs and offshore Canadian campuses in
India.
12.
Research Internships:
MoU between AICTE and MITACS to enable ~300 Indian undergraduates
annually to undertake research in Canada.
13.
Cultural Cooperation MoU:
Strengthened collaboration in arts, heritage, audiovisual media, and creative
industries, including Indigenous and Tribal exchanges.
14.
Civil Aviation:
Commitment to renew MoU on Civil Aviation Cooperation to promote safe and
resilient aviation ecosystems.
ONE
FUTURE – Technology, Space & AI
15.
Science & Technology Revitalized:
Relaunch of Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC).
16.
Space Cooperation Expanded:
Collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation and Canadian
Space Agency in robotics, human spaceflight, atmospheric sciences, and
quantum communication.
17.
AI & Digital Cooperation:
Joint AI tools for space, healthcare diagnostics, smart grids, and renewable
energy optimization.
18.
Trilateral Tech Pact:
Signing of Australia–Canada–India MoU on Technology & Innovation under the
ACITI partnership.
Foundational
Layer 1 – Security & Defence
19.
Security Dialogue Strengthened:
Cooperation on counterterrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, narcotics, and
financial fraud.
20.
Defence Dialogue Institutionalized:
Launch of Maritime Security Partnership and formal India–Canada Defence
Dialogue.
21.
Indo-Pacific Coordination:
Joint commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. India welcomed
Canada’s interest in joining IORA as a Dialogue Partner.
Foundational
Layer 2 – Trade & Investment
22.
CEPA Negotiations Launched:
Formal negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA), with a target to conclude by end-2026.
23.
Trade Target:
Aim to expand bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion (INR 4.65 lakh crore) by
2030.
24.
CEO Forum Reconstituted:
India–Canada CEO Forum revived to boost private-sector engagement.
25.
Finance Ministers’ Dialogue:
New Economic and Financial Dialogue focusing on payments modernization,
fintech, capital markets, and cross-border remittances, involving NPCI and
Payments Canada.
Overall
Assessment:
The visit marks a comprehensive diplomatic reset
between India and Canada, anchored in energy security, clean technology, AI,
education, and defence cooperation. With CEPA negotiations formally launched
and ambitious trade and energy goals set, the renewed partnership aims to
deliver strategic, economic, and geopolitical dividends for both countries amid
a shifting global order.
At the
invitation of His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, the Right Honourable
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, paid an official visit to India from February
27 – March 2, 2026. This was Prime Minister Carney’s first visit to India after
taking over as the Prime Minister of Canada and is the first bilateral visit to
India by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2018. Prime Minister Carney was accompanied
by a Canadian high-level delegation that included senior ministers, provincial leaders
and leading CEOs.
Commemorating
79 years of establishment of diplomatic relations, the Leaders reaffirmed the importance
of the Canada–India relationship, grounded in shared democratic values, deep people-to-people
ties, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a joint commitment
to the rule of law.
The Leaders
acknowledged that, in an increasingly complex and uncertain global context, a strong,
resilient, and forward-looking partnership between two vibrant democracies contributes
meaningfully to mutual prosperity and to advancing shared global priorities. They
underscored that closer cooperation between India and Canada will help reinforce
international rules and norms that are applied fairly, strengthen economic resilience,
promote sustainable development, and address global challenges including climate
change, rapid technological transformation, and public health. The Leaders affirmed
their shared resolve to work together bilaterally and in multilateral fora to uphold
democratic values, support inclusive growth, and contribute to peace, stability,
and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Building
on this shared vision, the Leaders agreed to adopt the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or "One Earth, One Family, One Future”
as the overarching guiding framework for the renewed India–Canada Strategic Partnership,
reflecting their commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and collective global
responsibility. They underscored the alignment between India’s vision of Viksit
Bharat and Canada’s Build Canada Strong agenda, and affirmed that enhanced bilateral
cooperation across growth, innovation, energy transition, food and nutrition security,
trusted digital ecosystems, resilient supply chains, skills and talent mobility,
and people-centric development will serve as a catalyst for resilient societies,
shared prosperity, and a more sustainable future for both countries and the wider
world.
Progress
and Implementation of the New Roadmap
Both Leaders
welcomed the significant progress achieved since their meetings on the margins of
the G7 Summit in Kananaskis and the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in the implementation
of New Roadmap for Canada–India Relations, thereby providing a clear direction for
strengthening the Canada–India partnership. They noted with satisfaction the increased
frequency of two-way Ministerial-level engagements, which have injected renewed
momentum into bilateral cooperation across priority sectors; welcomed the activation
of various institutional dialogue mechanisms and enhanced sub-national engagement,
underscoring their importance in deepening mutual understanding and policy coordination;
acknowledged the return of diplomatic representatives to their respective missions;
and appreciated the constructive steps taken toward the gradual normalization of
bilateral ties, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations
in a spirit of mutual respect, accommodation, and cooperation.
The Leaders
highlighted the strong commercial foundation underpinning bilateral ties, reflected
in the launch of negotiations of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) and in significant business announcements and investment commitments in recent
months. These developments demonstrate the expanding scale, diversification, and
sophistication of the bilateral economic relationship and signal growing confidence
among businesses and investors in both markets. The Leaders noted that sustained
engagement between industry and government, supported by an enabling policy environment,
will be essential to unlock new opportunities in priority sectors and to translate
commercial momentum into long-term, mutually beneficial economic growth.
Building
on this momentum, the Leaders agreed to deepen collaboration across the following
priority sectors:
ONE
EARTH
Strategic
Energy Partnership
Recognizing
their complementary strengths as energy powers, the Leaders agreed to advance the
India-Canada Strategic Energy Partnership aimed at deepening long-term cooperation
across the energy value chain. They reaffirmed the immense importance of energy
security and diversification of supply for the safety, wellbeing, and economic vitality
of both countries, and underscored their shared commitment to enhancing collaboration
across clean energy, conventional energy, civil nuclear energy, and critical minerals
to promote affordability, sustainability, and economic growth.
The Leaders
welcomed the re-launch of the Canada–India Ministerial Energy Dialogue at India
Energy Week 2026 as a key institutional platform to sustain high-level policy dialogue
and strengthen strategic cooperation on energy security, diversification of supply,
and long-term market integration. They also welcomed the finalization of a Joint
Action plan under the Dialogue.
The Leaders
also highlighted the potential to broaden cooperation across clean energy and climate-related
value chains, including renewable energy, hydrogen and its derivatives, biofuels,
sustainable aviation fuel, battery storage, and electricity systems modernization,
recognizing the central role of these sectors in advancing shared climate objectives
and energy transition goals.
The Leaders
underscored solutions for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as a key
area of cooperation offering a significant opportunity for the sustainable production
of energy and critical minerals.
The Leaders
reaffirmed their intention to promote sustained government-to-government and business-to-business
engagement, including continued expert collaboration and cooperation through bilateral
and multilateral mechanisms, to ensure that the Strategic Energy Partnership delivers
tangible, long-term benefits for both countries.
Energy
Trade
The leaders
noted that strengthened institutional engagement would support expanded bilateral
energy trade, including in liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG), crude oil, refined petroleum products, potash, and uranium supply offtakes.
In this regard, they welcomed the conclusion of a CAD $2.6 billion commercial agreement
between Cameco and the Department of Atomic Energy for the long-term supply of uranium,
contributing to India’s civil nuclear energy generation, clean energy transition
objectives, and long-term energy security.
The Leaders
noted that Canada is poised to become a major global supplier of LNG and welcomed
India’s intention to source LNG from Canada. They further welcomed the emergence,
over the past five years, of Canada as an important supplier of heavy oil. With
India, positioned to be the largest contributor to incremental global energy demand
growth over the next two decades, beyond its current position as the world’s third-largest
oil consumer and fourth-largest LNG importer, both sides acknowledged the significant
potential to further expand bilateral energy trade. This includes increased oil
and LNG imports by India from Canada, as well as the supply of refined petroleum
products from India to Canada. In this context, Canada reaffirmed its plans to expand
heavy oil export infrastructure and supplies of LNG to the Indo-Pacific market through
Canada’s stated goal of producing 50 million tonnes of LNG per year by 2030 and
up to 100 million tonnes by 2040.
The Leaders
welcomed discussions between Indian public sector oil and gas companies and Canadian
energy firms to expand bilateral cooperation in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). They
noted ongoing engagement aimed at concluding India’s first long-term LPG supply
arrangement with Canada and expressed confidence that such partnerships will further
diversify energy trade, strengthen supply security, and create new opportunities
for collaboration across the hydrocarbon value chain.
Both sides
also reaffirmed support for greater private investment flows and long-term offtake
arrangements including through tools, such as loans, financing, and equity investments
to support commercially viable energy partnerships. Through the India-Canada Energy
Dialogue, both sides will set out a joint work plan to explore long-term contracts
and address the challenges to growing this trade including shipping costs and increasing
availability of Canadian heavy oil supply.
Critical
Minerals Cooperation
The Leaders
underscored their commitment to deepening long-term, reciprocal investment partnerships
across the energy and natural resource sectors, recognizing the scale of ongoing
projects and emerging opportunities in both markets. They further welcomed the signing
of a Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals Cooperation, reflecting their
shared commitment to building resilient, secure, and diversified critical minerals
supply chains. In this context, they welcomed India’s endorsement of the G7 Critical
Minerals Action Plan, which supports diversified and responsible production and
supply of critical minerals and encourages investment and innovation in value chains
essential for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and technology. The Leaders
also discussed Indian presence at the Prospectors and Developer’s Association of
Canada (PDAC) meeting in March 2026, and commitment for a Ministerial-led Indian
energy and industry delegation to Canada in summer 2026 to support robust commercial
outcomes for Canadian and Indian companies.
Leaders
agreed to strengthen collaboration in investment to support clean energy technologies
and future-oriented industries. They agreed to deepen cooperation on critical minerals
and energy transition pathways, including exploring collaboration on helping to
secure India’s mineral stockpiling initiative, and supporting robust commercial
outcomes for Canadian and Indian companies, while also sharing expertise on emissions
reductions, and transition technologies.
Clean
Energy Cooperation
The Leaders
also welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Clean Energy Cooperation,
establishing a comprehensive institutional framework to advance bilateral collaboration
across solar, wind, bioenergy, small hydro, energy storage, and capacity-building.
They agreed to build a mutually beneficial clean energy partnership that strengthens
energy security, accelerates the energy transition through information exchange
and joint investment opportunities, and promotes two-way public–private engagement
across the renewable energy value chain, including through a dedicated Joint Working
Group. This cooperation will support sustainable economic growth, regional resilience
in the Indo-Pacific, and the shared objective of building an inclusive clean energy
future.
Canada
expects to double electricity supply by 2050 and significantly expand deployment
of renewable energy and energy storage. Concurrently, India has demonstrated leadership
and capacity in large-scale solar and grid-level energy storage technologies along
with scalable models in rooftop solar and other forms of distributed renewable energy
solutions. In this regard, Leaders committed to convening a
India-Canada Renewable Energy and Storage Summit in 2026 to bring together industry,
investors, and government decision-makers to expand and diversify trade of these
technologies into Canada, including through future procurements and supply chain
partnerships.
Climate
and Environment
They welcomed
the deepening of cooperation under the existing Memorandum of Understanding on Climate
Change and Environment, underscoring the strength of the partnership. The Leaders
reaffirmed their shared commitment to science-based, inclusive, and equitable climate
action. They highlighted ongoing bilateral efforts to advance sustainable development
by addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and ecosystem degradation,
and agreed to strengthen collaboration on climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity
conservation, and reducing plastic pollution, with particular attention to building
resilience and supporting vulnerable communities.
Global
Clean Energy Platforms
India
welcomed Canada’s decision that it intends to pursue membership in the International
Solar Alliance, underscoring Canada’s strong commitment to advancing clean energy
and climate action. The leaders noted that Canada’s participation will strengthen
international cooperation on solar deployment, innovation, and capacity-building,
particularly in developing and climate-vulnerable regions. They agreed that enhanced
collaboration through the International Solar Alliance will complement bilateral
clean energy initiatives and contribute meaningfully to accelerating the global
energy transition and achieving shared sustainability goals.
India
welcomed Canada’s signing of the foundational documents to upgrade its participation
in the Global Biofuels Alliance as a Full Member. This step will further advance
the adoption of sustainable biofuels globally and strengthen cooperation across
the biofuels supply chains, standards, and deployment, including collaboration on
sustainability standards and lifecycle emissions.
Sustainable
Agriculture and Nutritional Security
Recognizing
the growing complementarity between India and Canada in agriculture and agri-food
systems, the Leaders underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation to
enhance food security, farm productivity, and resilient supply chains. The Leaders
highlighted expanding opportunities for collaboration in agri-technology,
research, and value-added food production, and agreed that deeper agricultural partnership
will advance sustainable farming practices, nutrition security, and mutually beneficial
trade and investment.
The Leaders
welcomed the proposal to collaborate on establishing a Canada–India Pulse Protein
Centre of Excellence at NIFTEM Kundli. They noted the
complementary strengths of the Province of Saskatchewan as a global leader in pulse
production and innovation, and India as the world’s largest producer and consumer
of pulses. The Leaders agreed that this initiative would strengthen agri-food research
collaboration, advance pulse protein processing and fortified food development,
and contribute to improving access to affordable, high-quality nutrition, while
reinforcing sub-national partnerships and industry–academia linkages between the
two countries.
ONE
FAMILY
Investing
in Talent
The leaders
underscored the central role of education and talent mobility in advancing people-to-people
ties between India and Canada. They noted that the movement of students, researchers,
and professionals has been mutually beneficial, strengthening innovation ecosystems
and economic growth in both countries.
Recognizing
the importance of international academic collaboration in fostering innovation;
improving learning outcomes; and building a future-ready workforce, the Leaders
agreed to deepen cooperation between higher education institutions by enhancing
industry aligned skills training; expanding joint; dual-degree and twinning programs;
facilitating the establishment of offshore campuses of leading Canadian institutions
in India; strengthening research partnerships in emerging technologies; and revitalizing
the Joint Working Group on Higher Education to further support cooperation in this
area.
The Leaders
welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding between India’s All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) and Canada’s MITACS to expand the Globalink
Research Internship program, enabling approximately 300 Indian undergraduate students
annually to undertake research placements at Canadian universities. They noted that
this flagship initiative will strengthen institutional linkages, deepen academic
collaboration across disciplines, and build future-ready skills through hands-on
research and professional training.
Leaders
welcomed a new Joint Talent and Innovation Strategy, a developing initiative aimed
at embedding Canadian research and innovation capacity in shared priority sectors
and strengthening two-way talent flows through structured mobility, joint training
pathways, and research collaboration.
The Leaders
underscored the importance of fostering deeper institutional partnerships, researcher
mobility, and knowledge exchange to advance innovation, build capacity, and support
shared Indo-Pacific priorities. In this context, they welcomed Canada’s Indo-Pacific
Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians (IPSFC) program as a meaningful step
toward strengthening academic and research linkages between Canadian and Indian
institutions. They noted that over 85 Canadian graduate students and researchers
from 11 Canadian post-secondary institutions will travel to India under the program
to collaborate with leading Indian academics across priority areas including clean
hydrogen, climate resilience, artificial intelligence, trade and supply chain resilience,
and sustainable development. The Leaders also welcomed the conclusion of twenty-four
education-related MOUs.
People-to-People
and Cultural Cooperation
Recognizing
the deep historical connections and vibrant people-to-people links between India
and Canada, the Leaders underscored that cultural cooperation is a vital pillar
of the bilateral relationship. They noted that sustained cultural exchange strengthens
mutual understanding, celebrates diversity, and builds lasting connections between
societies, while also supporting creative economies and innovation. The Leaders
agreed that closer collaboration in culture, heritage, and creative industries will
further enrich bilateral ties and contribute meaningfully to inclusive growth and
shared prosperity.
The Leaders
welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation, reaffirming
their commitment to deepen people-to-people ties between the two countries through
expanded collaboration in the arts, heritage, audiovisual media, music, and creative
industries. They agreed to strengthen cooperation between cultural institutions
and creators in both countries through targeted initiatives.
The Leaders
also underscored the potential of emerging technologies, including virtual and augmented
reality and artificial intelligence, for the cultural sector and supporting sustained
cultural dialogue, creative partnerships, and mutual understanding in this area.
The Leaders
reaffirmed the importance of empowering Indigenous and Tribal communities in both
countries and recognized their rich cultural heritage, traditional knowledge systems,
and enduring contributions to national development. They welcomed Bharat Tribal
Festival (BTF) 2026 as an example of an important platform to promote global exchanges
in entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and sustainable livelihoods. The Leaders
agreed to encourage dialogue and collaboration in areas such as cultural exchange,
skills development, traditional knowledge, and market access for community-based
products, with a view to strengthening inclusive growth and reinforcing people-to-people
ties grounded in mutual respect for diverse cultures and traditions.
The Leaders
welcomed the recent Canada–India Track II Strategic Dialogue, which brought together
policymakers, experts, business leaders, and civil society to explore pathways for
translating the diplomatic reset into concrete cooperation across issues such as
economic resilience, emerging technologies, energy security, and people-to-people
exchanges. They noted that this high-level exchange underscored the importance of
institutionalized engagement, expanded sectoral collaboration, and shared policy
dialogue as enduring complements to official government-to-government mechanisms.
The Leaders agreed that sustained dialogue across formal and Track II platforms
will help deepen mutual understanding, strengthen bilateral cooperation, and inform
practical, forward-looking initiatives that deliver tangible benefits for both societies.
3The Leaders
recognized the strong history of collaboration in the field of civil aviation between
the two countries and its significant contribution to economic growth, connectivity
and people-to-people exchanges. They expressed their desire to deepen this collaboration
through continued work to renew their joint Memorandum of Understanding on Civil
Aviation Cooperation to help promote safe, secure, sustainable and resilient aviation
ecosystems in both countries.
ONE
FUTURE
Science
and Technology Architecture
Recognizing
that technology and innovation are central drivers of economic growth, competitiveness,
and societal resilience, the Leaders underscored the importance of deepening India–Canada
cooperation in science, technology and innovation. This convergence highlights the
need to revitalize institutional mechanisms that can translate ambition into coordinated,
results oriented collaboration. The relaunch of the Joint Science and Technology
Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) is a pivotal step providing a renewed platform to
enhance cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, strengthening secure
and trusted digital ecosystems, accelerating clean tech and energy innovation, and
expanding research partnerships.
Space
Cooperation
The Leader’s
discussed the urgency and mutual benefit of strategic partnership on space cooperation
by respective agencies and private sectors. On the basis of trust built between
the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
over the 30 years since a Memorandum of Understanding on space cooperation was first
signed in 1996, space agencies and their national business and research eco-systems
are positioned to rapidly and jointly pursue emerging opportunities.
This partnership
will be guided by an ambitious Implementation Arrangement under the MOU to operationalize
joint projects and facilitate technical collaboration in new and emerging domains,
including atmospheric sciences, space exploration involving space robotics and human
spaceflight, and quantum communication technologies, supported by enhanced capacity‑building
and knowledge exchange between their agencies. More broadly, they affirmed the importance
of strengthening connections across their national space ecosystems, encouraging
partnerships among government organizations, industry, startups, academia and research
institutions to leverage complementary strengths, drive innovation, and contribute
to shared development objectives.
Digital
and AI Cooperation
Building
upon space cooperation, India and Canada intend to explore joint initiatives to
integrate AI into space and aerospace technologies. By co-developing these AI tools
for space applications and earth observation, both countries will advance innovation
and reinforce their technological sovereignty.
The Leaders
agreed to explore collaboration on AI assisted tools to strengthen the diagnostic
capabilities of distance medicine to deliver modern, reliable health care to the
remote regions of both countries.
Recognising
the value of industry and academia partnerships, both sides intend to establish
a program of cross-border work-integrated learning opportunities that will enable
Indian engineers and researchers to gain hands-on experience at Canada’s world class
AI research institutes and Canadian engineers gaining exposure to India’s expertise
in the large-scale deployment of digital public infrastructure ecosystem.
Recognizing
the growing importance of resilient electric grid systems in the context of rising
energy demand and the expanding role of renewable energy, both sides agreed to strengthen
cooperation through knowledge-sharing on the development of AI algorithms to predict
energy surges and to better manage battery storage across different climatic conditions
to support reliable, efficient and climate-resilient power systems in both countries.
The Leaders
welcomed progress under the Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation (ACITI)
Partnership and noted the recent meeting of the AI Ministers of the three countries
on the margins of the AI Summit in New Delhi. They agreed to develop a joint workplan
to advance practical trilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital
technologies and underscored the potential for deeper collaboration across digital
infrastructure, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, high-performance computing,
Internet-of-Things (IoT), cybersecurity, and startup ecosystems. The Leaders further
agreed to strengthen policy and regulatory exchanges to advance AI sovereignty,
inclusivity, access and trustworthiness; promote AI adoption and related business-to-business
partnerships; and advance joint capacity-building through skills development, training,
and knowledge-sharing, with a view to fostering trusted innovation ecosystems and
delivering tangible outcomes. The Leaders welcomed the codification of this work
through the signing of a trilateral Australia-Canada-India MOU on Cooperation in
Technology and Innovation.
To translate
this shared vision into concrete outcomes, the Leaders agreed to structure the renewed
India–Canada Strategic Partnership around two foundational layers.
Foundational
Layer – 1: Security and Defence Cooperation
Security
Cooperation
The Leaders
welcomed the progress made under the regular bilateral security dialogue convened
at the level of the National Security Advisors and the agreement to a shared workplan
to guide enhanced cooperation on national security and law enforcement priorities.
As pluralistic democracies, they agreed to deepen collaboration to address issues
relating to violent extremism, terrorism, organized crime, including the illegal
flow of narcotics and fentanyl precursors, cybercrime, extortion, financial fraud,
trafficking and related criminal networks. The Leaders supported the establishment
of security and law-enforcement liaison mechanisms to streamline bilateral communication
and enable timely information-sharing and committed to strengthening cooperation
on cybersecurity and immigration enforcement, consistent with domestic laws and
international obligations. They also called for the early convening of the next
meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism.
Defence
Cooperation
The Leaders
recognize the value of expanding practical military cooperation and welcome opportunities
to deepen defence relations through cooperative activities, joint training opportunities,
and professional military exchanges. Leaders welcomed a new Maritime Security Partnership
in areas such as Defence Material Cooperation, Supply Chain Resilience, and Training
and Exercises.
Both countries
agree to institutionalizing an India–Canada Defence Dialogue which will exchange
views on respective defence policies, regional and global security developments,
and strategic outlooks in order to identify opportunities for greater defence collaboration.
In this
context, they welcomed Canada’s appointment of a Defence Attaché to India and India’s
concurrent accreditation of its Defence Attaché in Washington D.C. to Canada as
important steps toward strengthening institutional linkages.
Multilateral
and Indo-Pacific Engagement
Both countries
agreed to deepen cooperation in a range of regional and global fora. These engagements
will strengthen coordination and promote a shared understanding of priorities in
an increasingly complex strategic environment.
The Leaders
agreed that the Indo-Pacific represents a region of growing strategic and economic
importance and reaffirmed their shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and
resilient Indo-Pacific. They underscored the value of practical cooperation in promoting
sustainable development, maritime safety and security, climate resilience, connectivity,
and capacity-building across the region. The Leaders committed to strengthening
coordination through regional and global institutions and partnerships, leveraging
complementary strengths to support infrastructure development, digital inclusion,
disaster preparedness, and people-centric growth, while advancing a rules-based
international order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Leaders
noted the growing convergence between India’s vision for the Indian Ocean Region
and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, grounded in shared interests in stability, sustainable
development, connectivity, and inclusive growth. India welcomed Canada’s interest
in joining the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a Dialogue Partner, recognizing
the value Canada can bring through its expertise in maritime governance, climate
resilience, blue economy, and capacity-building. The Leaders agreed to strengthen
cooperation in the Indian Ocean through practical initiatives supporting disaster
preparedness, infrastructure development, digital inclusion, and people-centric
growth, and affirmed their commitment to working together with regional partners
to advance a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Foundational
Layer – 2: Advancing Trade Partnership
Ministerial
Dialogue on Trade and Investment
The Leaders
noted that the renewed Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment marked a renewed
phase of engagement aimed at reinvigorating bilateral trade and investment ties
and setting a forward-looking agenda for cooperation, anchored in shared democratic
values and growing economic complementarities.
CEPA
and Trade Architecture
The Leaders
reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic engagement
through the resumption of discussions toward an ambitious and mutually beneficial
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The Leaders expressed confidence
that a comprehensive trade framework would serve as a durable economic anchor for
the partnership and support the shared aspiration of expanding bilateral trade to
CAD 70 billion / INR 4.65 lakh crore by 2030. They welcomed the finalization and
signing of the Terms of Reference for CEPA negotiations and the launch of formal
negotiations and expressed their shared commitment to conclude the talks by end-2026.
Commercial
Momentum
Acknowledging
the evolving global economic landscape, both sides underscored the importance of
a resilient, reliable, and predictable trading relationship that enhances supply
chain stability, mitigates external vulnerabilities, accommodates each other’s sensitivities,
and promotes mutually beneficial cooperation across priority sectors. They further
recognized the deepening integration of their economies, reflected in the substantial
workforce employed by Canadian companies operating in India and by Indian companies
operating in Canada, demonstrating a significant two-way commercial presence that
already anchors the partnership.
To impart
greater commercial momentum to bilateral trade and investment ties, the Leaders
welcomed a program of four reciprocal Ministerial-led trade and investment engagements,
including two visits to Canada and two visits to India, accompanied by business
delegations. They noted that these exchanges will help unlock new commercial opportunities,
deepen private-sector partnerships, and further integrate the economies of both
countries.
India-Canada
CEO Forum
The Leaders
welcomed the reconstitution of the India–Canada CEO Forum as a key platform to deepen
private-sector engagement and advance practical cooperation across priority sectors.
They encouraged business leaders from both countries to leverage the Forum to identify
new opportunities in trade, investment, innovation, and supply chain resilience,
and to provide actionable recommendations to support CEPA negotiations and broader
economic objectives. The Leaders agreed that stronger collaboration between industry,
government, and financial institutions will be essential to taking bilateral economic
cooperation to the next level and delivering tangible benefits for businesses and
citizens in both countries.
Finance
Ministers Economic Dialogue
The Leaders
welcomed the launch of the Finance Ministers’ Economic and Financial Dialogue that
will bring together finance officials on issues such as payments modernization,
financial stability, fintech innovation and capital markets development. As an early
priority, this will include collaboration on the future of instant payments and
explore opportunities on cross-border remittances and merchant payments. The National
Payments Corporation of India and Payments Canada would be invited to participate,
with the aim of boosting bilateral trade, while supporting tourism, education, remittances,
and growth for SMEs in both countries. They noted that the inaugural Finance Ministers
Economic Dialogue will be hosted at a mutually agreed time in 2026.
Conclusion
Prime
Minister Carney expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government and people
of India for their warm hospitality and reaffirmed Canada’s strong commitment to
advancing this comprehensive partnership.
Both Leaders
welcomed continued high-level engagement and expressed confidence that the initiatives
outlined in this Joint Statement will further deepen the India–Canada partnership,
strengthen mutual trust, and deliver tangible, long-term benefits for both countries
and their peoples.
They affirmed
that a stronger India–Canada partnership will also contribute positively to regional
stability, global resilience, and shared prosperity, reflecting their common commitment
to building a more inclusive, sustainable, and secure future.