Quebec is actively seeking to deepen its economic partnership with India, with the Canadian province's minister identifying artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, education, and clean technologies as the primary pillars of future collaboration. Christopher Skeete, Quebec's Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, made the remarks during a visit to New Delhi on 7 July, underlining the province's intent to diversify its economy through stable, long-term ties with India.

Key Sectors for Collaboration

Skeete identified AI and aerospace as areas where Quebec holds a competitive edge and where synergies with Indian industry are most promising. 'Artificial intelligence defines the future, and Quebec is very well positioned in that sphere. We can do a lot together. Aerospace is another priority where both sides have significant opportunities,' he said.

Education emerged as another focal point, with Skeete noting strong complementarities between universities in Quebec and India. 'There is a lot of proximity between our universities. We need to do more there,' he said, suggesting that academic partnerships could serve as a foundation for broader knowledge-economy ties.

Call for Two-Way Investment

The minister extended a direct invitation to Indian businesses to explore Quebec as a destination for investment and expansion. 'There are a lot of opportunities for Indian investors. We love entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial experience. There are great things for Indian companies to do in Quebec, and also for Quebec companies to do here in India,' Skeete said.

He framed the push as part of a broader imperative to build secure supply chains amid rapid global change. 'The world is changing very quickly, and we need each other in order to foster secure supply chains and secure relationships,' he said, adding that both sides are 'ideally suited' to fulfil those roles.

Institutional and Government Engagement

During his New Delhi visit, Skeete held meetings with officials at both the state and central government levels, signalling that Quebec's outreach extends beyond business circles to formal institutional cooperation. The minister indicated that strengthening Quebec's on-ground presence in India is a priority to facilitate smoother investment flows in both directions.

The Bigger Picture

Quebec's India push comes at a time when Canada-India diplomatic relations have faced turbulence at the federal level, making the province's independent economic diplomacy notably significant. By engaging directly with New Delhi on trade and technology, Quebec is carving out its own bilateral track — one focused on practical outcomes rather than political timelines.

Skeete was clear that the immediate focus is on generating tangible business results. 'We need to have businesses from India come to Quebec, we need to have businesses from Quebec come here, and we need to foster those links now so that in 10 years we can say it was a great success,' he said. The minister's visit is expected to be followed by structured business delegations and deeper institutional frameworks in the months ahead.