Mumbai: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in India on a four-day official visit along with his wife Diana Fox Carney. This marks his first visit to India as Prime Minister.
PM Carney is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2 in New Delhi, in what is being seen as a significant step toward strengthening India–Canada relations.
Warm Welcome in Mumbai
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, PM Carney was warmly received upon arrival in Mumbai. Maharashtra’s Protocol and Marketing Minister Jay Kumar Rawal welcomed him at the airport.
The Ministry stated that the visit is an important milestone in enhancing India–Canada ties, which are based on shared democratic values, strong people-to-people connections, and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
On February 28, PM Carney will attend an event in Mumbai before travelling to New Delhi on March 1.
Key Meetings Scheduled in New Delhi
On March 2, PM Carney will:
- Meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at Hotel Leela Palace at 9:00 AM
- Hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House at 10:30 AM
- Witness the exchange of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at 11:40 AM
- Issue joint press statements
- Participate in the India–Canada CEO Forum at Bharat Mandapam at 1:50 PM
PM Carney is scheduled to depart for Canada later in the evening.
Focus Areas: Trade, Energy, Technology and AI
During the visit, both leaders are expected to review cooperation in key pillars, including:
- Trade and investment
- Energy collaboration
- Critical minerals
- Agriculture
- Education and research
- Innovation and technology, including Artificial Intelligence
- People-to-people ties
Regional and global developments will also be discussed.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office earlier stated that the visit will focus on strengthening bilateral ties through ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, AI, talent mobility, culture, and defense.
Resetting India–Canada Relations
The Ministry of External Affairs noted that the visit comes at a crucial time as India and Canada work toward normalizing and stabilizing bilateral relations. Both sides have expressed commitment to a constructive and balanced partnership built on mutual respect and economic complementarity.
According to the Canadian government, India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a global hub for commerce and technology. In 2024, India was Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in goods and services, with bilateral trade reaching USD 30.8 billion.
Strengthening Indo-Pacific Engagement
Carney’s visit is also part of Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific outreach strategy, aimed at deepening partnerships in a region critical to global security and economic growth.
With high-level meetings, business engagements, and sectoral discussions lined up, the visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into India–Canada relations and open new avenues for strategic cooperation.
