Ottawa, February 23 (NationPress) - The enhancement of the Canada-India partnership will be a key focus as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney embarks on a visit to India later this week. His itinerary begins in Mumbai before he travels to New Delhi for discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Both leaders aim to elevate the Canada-India relationship, establishing ambitious new collaborations in sectors such as trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), talent, culture, and defense. Prime Minister Carney will engage with business leaders to explore investment prospects in Canada and foster new business alliances between the two countries," stated an announcement from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office on Monday.

Following his time in India, Carney will proceed to Australia and subsequently to Japan. His itinerary for these visits is set from February 26 to March 7. According to Carney's office, "These visits to three of Canada’s key Indo-Pacific allies will reinforce regional connections vital for our security and economic prosperity."

"In an increasingly unpredictable world, Canada is prioritizing what it can influence. We are diversifying our trade and attracting significant new investments, creating fresh opportunities for our workforce and businesses. We are also building new international partnerships to enhance certainty, security, and prosperity at home," the statement further elaborated.

The Canadian PMO emphasized that India stands as the fastest-growing major economy globally and a significant player in international commerce and technology. In 2024, India was Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in goods and services, with bilateral trade reaching $30.8 billion.

During the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last November, PM Modi met with Carney, where he highlighted India's goal of achieving $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Prime Minister Modi remarked on the substantial potential for enhancing trade and investment ties between India and Canada.

“Our target for bilateral trade is $50 billion by 2030. Canadian Pension Funds are also displaying great interest in Indian enterprises,” he noted in a post on X after their meeting.

Earlier this month, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

An official press release from the Government of Canada mentioned, "This is the fifth meeting between the ministers since September 2025, indicating the increasing momentum in the Canada-India relationship, which has been built over more than 75 years of diplomatic ties and robust people-to-people connections. The ministers discussed ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including energy, technology, and trade."

Highlighting India’s growing global significance, the Canadian government noted, “As one of the world’s most dynamic and expanding economies, Minister Anand acknowledged India’s crucial role as a partner for Canada.” The ministers reaffirmed the shared technological advantages and substantial partnership opportunities for businesses, industries, and workers in both countries.

Both parties underscored the significant progress made on the roadmap for Canada-India relations and reiterated their commitment to strengthening ties by implementing roadmap priorities while expanding and diversifying trade between Canada and India to support economic resilience and stability.

EAM Jaishankar expressed that he had a productive discussion with his Canadian counterpart, with both ministers deliberating on further strengthening bilateral relations in various sectors.