Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a bilateral meeting on November 23 on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, marking a significant step toward resetting India-Canada relations. The meeting comes just days after the 7th Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment held in New Delhi on November 13, 2025.
During their discussion, both leaders agreed to formally kick off negotiations for a wide-ranging Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The proposed pact will cover an extensive list of areas—goods and services, investment, agriculture and agri-food systems, digital trade, mobility, and sustainable development—reflecting the growing economic ambitions of both nations.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, Modi and Carney shared confidence that the CEPA could serve as a “strong economic anchor,” helping push two-way trade beyond $70 billion by 2030, more than double the current trade volume.
The leaders also reviewed diplomatic progress since the return of high commissioners in August 2025, agreeing to scale up staffing in their missions to better handle rising consular needs. They emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections, especially through collaborative knowledge-sharing programs.
