Evian (France), June 17, 2026, BNN Web Staff: India and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreeing to work towards concluding negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2026.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, where they reviewed the progress achieved in India-Canada relations since Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.
Discussions focused on expanding economic collaboration, enhancing trade opportunities and deepening cooperation across several strategic sectors.
According to a statement issued by the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders assessed developments in bilateral economic engagement, including commercial arrangements involving liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and metallurgical coal.
Welcoming the increasing frequency of high-level interactions between the two countries, Modi and Carney expressed optimism about future engagements.
They also looked forward to a Canadian trade delegation visiting India later this year under the leadership of Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu.
The leaders noted significant progress in negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and reiterated their shared goal of completing the talks in 2026.
The trade pact is expected to boost investment flows, improve market access and strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Carney for inviting him to visit Canada in 2026. Both sides agreed to remain in close diplomatic contact to finalise a suitable schedule for the visit.
Beyond trade, the two leaders reviewed growing institutional cooperation. They welcomed recent meetings of the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee and the Consular Dialogue, while also expressing interest in advancing discussions in the fields of defence, finance and migration.
In a significant development, India and Canada agreed to begin negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), aimed at enhancing defence and security cooperation. The leaders also appreciated recent exchanges between defence institutions, including the visit of India’s National Defence College to Canada.
The meeting further highlighted ongoing collaboration under the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy, which seeks to strengthen skills development, innovation partnerships and educational exchanges between institutions in both countries.
Prime Minister Modi also conveyed India’s support for Canada’s bid to become a Dialogue Partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
As part of efforts to deepen people-to-people and policy engagement, the two countries announced the launch of “Raisina Americas,” a new platform designed to encourage dialogue, exchanges and cooperation across multiple sectors.
In a post on X following the meeting, Prime Minister Carney described India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy and a key force in global trade and technology. He said both countries are working together to expand partnerships in areas such as energy, talent mobility and artificial intelligence.
The two leaders concluded by reaffirming their commitment to building a forward-looking strategic partnership and emphasised the importance of resilient supply chains in ensuring global energy and food security.
