Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to begin his four-day visit to India on Friday in Mumbai, a trip seen as key to strengthening bilateral ties between New Delhi and Ottawa. The ministry of external affairs on Thursday shared details of Carney’s first official visit to New Delhi, including his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the agenda for discussions between the two democracies.Carney’s visit marks a significant diplomatic shift in Ottawa’s approach towards India. Prime Minister Modi had earlier invited his Canadian counterpart after months of strained relations between the two countries, particularly during the tenure of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Here’s what is on the agenda:
- According to the MEA, the two prime ministers will hold delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House.
- PM Modi and Carney are expected to review progress made across various sectors under the India–Canada strategic partnership, building on their earlier meetings in Kananaskis, Calgary (June 2025), and Johannesburg, South Africa (November 2025).
- The leaders will also take stock of ongoing cooperation in key areas, including trade and investment.
- Discussions are set to cover energy, critical minerals, agriculture, education, research and innovation, as well as people-to-people ties.
- The two sides will exchange views on regional and global developments. PM Modi and Carney will also attend the India–Canada CEOs Forum scheduled later in the day.
- The visit aims to inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties, which came under severe strain following a diplomatic row over the killing of a Khalistani separatist in 2023.
Meanwhile, PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Israel, where he met his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. He will return to India and then hold bilateral talks with Carney.
