This week, I am visiting New Delhi to meet with my counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, minister of external affairs, and to participate in Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum. My message to minister Jaishankar and the Indian people is clear: as democracies bound together by people-to-people ties and committed to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, Canada and India are natural partners, and we are making steady progress in elevating our relations.

Canada and India share nearly 80 years of diplomatic relations, and now, we are finding new ways to work together. As our world becomes more dangerous and divided, Canada is building up its strategic autonomy and resilience. Strategic autonomy does not mean isolation or disengagement. Rather, it requires Canada to diversify our international relationships. This means reinforcing our ties with small states, middle powers, and large nations.

As we pursue this work, India is a partner of choice, and there is much that our countries can do to elevate our relations. This is the purpose of my visit, which comes at an important anniversary, and a time of great opportunity.

Almost exactly one year ago, minister Jaishankar and I agreed on a New Roadmap for Canada-India Relations, outlining the work that our countries will pursue on six thematic areas: trade, climate action, energy, science and technology, agriculture, and people-to-people linkages.

Over the past year, we have been making steady progress on implementing our plan. Canada and India are advancing work on a Canada-India comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). Canada is committed to concluding a mutually beneficial CEPA by the end of this year, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits our country.

Through the CEPA, Canada and India will open the door to an even stronger economic relationship, but Canada is also working to help Canadian and Indian and businesses alike walk through that door.

I am especially pleased that my colleague Maninder Sidhu, Canada’s minister of international trade, is currently leading Canada’s largest trade delegation to India in over 30 years, with stops in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Nearly 300 delegates are currently visiting India to connect with Indian decision makers, key industry players and potential clients to expand commercial relations and build new partnerships that create good-paying jobs.

Ultimately, Canada’s goal is to match our expertise in sectors like aerospace, agri-food and clean technology with India’s growing demand, with the goal of more than doubling our trade with India to $70 billion by 2030.

We have also been pleased to welcome Indian delegations to Canada over the past year. In May, during his visit to Canada for the Trade and Investment Forum in Toronto, Minister Goyal led the largest trade delegation that India has ever sent anywhere in the world.

In September, Prime Minister Carney hosted the first Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, bringing together businesses and investors from around the world, including India.

Visitors to Canada heard first-hand how Canada is advancing major projects in critical minerals, mining, energy, and infrastructure, creating significant opportunities for long-term investment and partnership, including for Indian investors.

Our cooperation is also on track in other areas of our New Roadmap. High-level dialogues are taking place at a healthy pace, including between our foreign ministries, and on mobility and migration issues. Earlier this month, our leaders’ national security advisors held discussions to ensure that issues on both sides are addressed collaboratively. Our countries have recently seen joint meetings of the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, and earlier this year, we launched the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy to deepen education collaboration, with 13 new partnerships between Canadian and Indian universities.

Officials from Canada, Australia, and India recently met to plan a path forward for the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership. Importantly, negotiations are also taking place to establish a General Security of Information Agreement between Canada and India and to determine a path forward on increased defence cooperation.

Work is also underway to strengthen our political relations. Building on visits to Canada by India’s Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, Canada and India are launching Raisina Americas to strengthen the opportunities for exchanges and cooperation. Further, we welcome India’s membership in the Partnership for Multilateralism, launched by Canada and its partners at the recent United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.

In sum, Canada and India are natural and complementary partners. In a world where international rules are under threat and countries must work together pragmatically to grow our economies and solve global challenges, there is much more that Canada and India can do together. I am very pleased to be in New Delhi this week, and I am more optimistic than ever about the future of our bilateral relationship.

Source : Times of India