New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney who is on a bilateral visit to India, on March 2, Monday hailed the India-Canada relations as embedded with “new ambition, focus and foresight”. He described the past year in the strategic ties as one of the unprecedented engagement between Ottawa and New Delhi. Addressing a Joint Press meet at Hyderabad House in the national capital, Carney thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “generous hospitality” extended to him and his delegation. PM Carney said that the spirit of partnership had defined bilateral exchanges since their first conversation last June.
Highlighting the scale of diplomatic outreach, Carney said there had been more high-level engagement in the past year than in decades. “Our foreign ministers have met five times. Four of my ministers have led delegations here to India. Provincial premiers have been here, including today. There has been more engagement between the Canadian and Indian governments in the last year than there has been in more than two decades combined”, he said. “So this is not merely the renewal of a relationship. It is the expansion of a valued partnership with new ambition, focus and foresight, a partnership between confident countries charting our own course for the future”, PM Carney added.
Addressing the joint press meet with PM Mark Carney of Canada.@MarkJCarney https://t.co/p0PVHPlw0k
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2026
Canada Prime Minister hails economic growth rate of India
Reflecting on India’s economic trajectory, Carney praised the country’s growth under PM Modi’s leadership. “In the last decade, let’s just reflect on what’s happened. Prime Minister, India has become the fastest-growing economy in the world in terms of per capita income. Incomes in this country have risen at a pace never seen in history, seldom in human history”, PM Carney expressed. He also pointed to India’s advancements in emerging sectors. “The most ambitious projects in clean energy, in the digital economy, in biofuels, in the next generation of artificial intelligence talent are all here in India,” Carney said, adding that Canada shares similar aspirations.
“Canada shares such ambition and your sense of purpose”, PM Carney further said, indicating that the evolving partnership would be anchored in innovation, sustainable development and shared economic priorities. The two countries also exchanged several MoUs in the presence of both Prime Ministers.
Launch of India-Canada Defence Dialogue
Prime Minister Modi announced the launch of the India-Canada Defence Dialogue in the presence of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Prime Minister Modi said, “The growing cooperation in the field of defence and security is a symbol of our deep mutual trust and the maturity of our relationship. We will work to enhance Defence Industries, Maritime Domain Awareness and Military Exchanges. For this purpose, today we have decided to establish the India-Canada Defence Dialogue”.
Prime Minister Office of Canada also noted, “Canada and India will increase defence cooperation, including maritime security and identify opportunities for bilateral and multilateral naval activities to deepen interoperability and promote knowledge exchange, underscoring our shared commitment to security and resilience”.
Series of MoUs sealed
A long-term uranium supply agreement and a target to raise bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030 were also announced between the two countries. Memorandums of Understanding(MoUs) were signed aimed at expanding the Canada-India partnership across energy and critical minerals, technology and AI, talent and culture and defence. Three of the MoUs -namely on Critical Mineral Cooperation, Promoting the use of Renewable Energy and Cultural Cooperation- were exchanged.
Further, PM Modi said that people-to-people ties are the real strength of the ties between Canada and India and to strengthen these ties, “we have taken many important decisions”. He also highlighted educational collaboration, noting, “In AI, healthcare, agriculture and innovation, many universities are announcing new partnerships. We have also agreed to open a campus in India through Canadian universities”. On promoting inclusivity, the Prime Minister added, “Indigenous and tribal communities are an important part of our cultural heritage. To strengthen our cultural ties, we have established an MoU between both parties. India has an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region. We welcome Indian Ocean Ream Association’s interest in becoming a Dialogue Partner”.
Canada and India also announced a new Strategic Energy Partnership, including in LNG, LPG, uranium, solar and hydrogen. PM Modi also announced the creation of the India-Canada Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence in India. Building on the progress made in recent talks, PM Modi and the Canadian PM Carney agreed to advance bilateral cooperation on security and law enforcement. This includes issues of mutual concern to Canada and India, such as the illegal flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors and transnational organised criminal networks. Carney also underscored that Canada will continue to take measures to combat transnational repression.
The Canadian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation agreed to cooperate on Earth observation and intend to explore joint initiatives on space exploration and quantum technologies, leveraging space-based technologies to support innovation and disaster resilience.
Prime Minister @narendramodi held wide-ranging and productive discussions with Prime Minister @MarkJCarney in New Delhi today.
The leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation. Discussions included areas of trade & investment, defence & security, education &… pic.twitter.com/oKCSaeeU0Z
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 2, 2026
Cooperation on countering terrorism and radicalisation
Discussing security and global challenges, PM Modi said, “This will provide new depth to our maritime partnership. We agree that terrorism, extremism and radicalization are serious challenges not only for both countries but for the entire humanity. Our close partnership for global peace and stability is very important”. He further emphasised India’s commitment to peace, stating, “India’s thoughts on the many tensions in the world are clear. We have always called for peace and stability. When two democracies stand together, the voice of peace becomes even stronger”.
Dialogue and diplomacy is the solution to West Asia crisis
Addressing the situation in West Asia, PM Modi said, “The current situation in West Asia is a matter of deep concern for us. India supports the resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. For the security of all Indian citizens in this region, we will work together with all countries”.
Consolidating Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement(CEPA)
PM Carney and Prime Minister Modi confirmed that Canada and India will conclude a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) this year, following a meeting of chief negotiators in New Delhi and the finalisation and signing of the Terms of Reference for the CEPA. The agreement acts as a major propollent in consolidating free trade paradigm between India and Canada. It helps to carve a resilient trade ecosystem with credible supply chain potential amidst tariff hiccups, supply chain crisis and other global economic bottlenecks.
(With Inputs from ANI)
