Mumbai, February 27 (NationPress) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with his spouse, Diana Fox Carney, touched down in Mumbai on Friday, marking the commencement of his inaugural official visit to India. They were welcomed at the airport by Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Protocol and Marketing from Maharashtra.

As per Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Carney's arrival signifies a crucial advancement in bolstering India-Canada relations.

On social media platform X, Jaiswal shared, "We extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada as he embarks on his first Official Visit to India. This visit is pivotal in enhancing the India–Canada partnership."

He continued, "The Prime Minister was greeted by Shri Jaykumar Rawal at the airport. The collaboration between India and Canada is founded on mutual democratic values, robust people-to-people connections, and increasing cooperation across various sectors."

This visit represents the first formal trip by a Canadian Prime Minister to India since diplomatic relations soured under the prior administration of Justin Trudeau, indicating a renewed effort to stabilize and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties.

As per a statement from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, Carney is poised to engage with prominent business leaders in Mumbai. Following this, he will head to New Delhi for high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2.

"The discussions will center on elevating and expanding the Canada-India partnership, with ambitious initiatives in sectors such as trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), talent and culture, and defense. Carney will also consult with business leaders to explore investment prospects in Canada and forge new collaborations between businesses from both nations," the statement disclosed on Monday.

During his time in Delhi, Carney is also set to participate in the India-Canada CEOs’ Forum.

The Canadian PMO emphasized that India stands as the world's fastest-growing major economy and a vital player in global commerce and technology. In 2024, India ranked as Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner regarding goods and services, with bilateral trade climbing to $30.8 billion.

Last November, Prime Minister Modi met Carney during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where he articulated India’s target of reaching $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Modi underscored the immense potential for enhancing trade and investment ties between India and Canada.

“Our goal is to achieve $50 billion by 2030 for bilateral trade. Canadian Pension Funds are also showing a strong interest in Indian enterprises,” Modi stated on X after their meeting.

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

In an official press release, the Government of Canada remarked, "This marks the fifth interaction between the ministers since September 2025, highlighting the increasing momentum in the Canada-India relationship, built on over 75 years of diplomatic connections and strong people-to-people ties. The ministers deliberated on enhancing cooperation in key sectors, including energy, technology, and trade."

Emphasizing India's growing global influence, the Canadian government pointed out, "As one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding economies, Minister Anand acknowledged India’s significance as a partner for Canada." The ministers reaffirmed the shared technological advantages and substantial partnership opportunities available for businesses, industries, and workers in both countries.

Both parties reiterated the substantial progress made on the collaborative roadmap for Canada-India relations and reaffirmed their dedication to fortifying ties through the execution of roadmap priorities, while also expanding and diversifying Canada-India trade to enhance economic resilience and stability.