October 24, 2025

New Delhi is buzzing with excitement as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to set foot in India this February! The main highlight? India's AI summit, but that's not all. There's a spicy chance that Carney will also meet India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for some serious bilateral talks. Why the hype? Because these talks could reopen the door for a big economic and free trade partnership, which had been paused during Justin Trudeau's time. India's high commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, dropped some truth-bombs in a chat with Canada's top English newspaper, 'The Globe and Mail'. He revealed, "There is a sincere effort on the part of both leaders to repair fractured diplomatic relations and focus on trade and investment opportunities amid a tariff war with the United States... Bilateral trade could top more than $50 billion annually if the two countries can negotiate a far-reaching deal." Talk about big stakes on the table! Patnaik is hopeful and clear: "We want an early visit of the prime minister to India. It is a relationship we do not want to go downhill." High-level talks have been quietly ongoing since last summer, especially to sort out national security worries, so both leaders can focus on boosting economic ties. He added, "We are hoping he accepts. If not, we will always find some time when we can do this before March. I want him to go before May when it really heats up." The clock is ticking! But wait, there’s more! India is ready to invest in Canada's energy and critical minerals sector. Yet, there’s a need for Ottawa to clear the path with reliable investment rules, strong environmental standards, and clarity on aboriginal title issues. This means both sides want to set up a smooth stage for a big economic dance. In short, this potential visit by Carney is not just a formality. It is packed with juicy opportunities that could supercharge Canada-India relations, making the trade and investment partnership shine bright. Fingers crossed for this friendship to blossom and the $50 billion trade mark to become a reality!

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Tags: Canada-india relations, Mark carney visit, Ai summit, Free trade partnership, Trade talks, Bilateral investment,