Efforts to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between India and Canada are gaining momentum as both nations work towards finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026. The collaboration aims to significantly boost bilateral trade, which reached C$30.4 billion in 2025, with the ambitious goal of doubling to C$70 billion annually by 2030.
In the latest development, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Canada in December. This visit, scheduled around the G20 summit in Miami, would mark Modi’s first standalone bilateral trip to Canada since 2015. Carney shared these updates while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, highlighting the importance of the bilateral relationship for trade, investment, security, and cultural exchanges.
The two countries are making “good progress” in their negotiations for the CEPA, according to Carney. The fifth round of discussions is set to commence on October 5, following the completion of the fourth round earlier this month. Both sides have expressed a commitment to accelerating the talks to meet their shared objective of concluding the agreement by the stipulated deadline.
The anticipated December visit by Modi follows his attendance at the G7 summit in Canada in June 2025, where he met with Carney to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. Earlier this year, Carney visited India in March, during which both nations agreed to expedite CEPA negotiations and expand cooperation in critical areas such as energy, technology, artificial intelligence, and defense.
This renewed focus on economic partnership comes after years of diplomatic strain between the two countries. Recent high-level meetings and ongoing trade negotiations underscore a mutual desire to rebuild the relationship and explore opportunities for collaboration across multiple sectors.