Canada PM's likely India visit to boost Cepa talks

Both sides working to ensure Carney visits New Delhi before March-end.

- ARCHIS MOHAN New Delhi, 22 January

India and Canada are working to ensure that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visits New Delhi before the end of March, with both countries keen to spur the negotiations for a bilateral trade deal.

The two sides are also looking for greater cooperation in the civilian nuclear sector, and India is exploring more investments from Canadian pension funds.

On Tuesday, Carney told the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos that Canada had shifted its strategic posture and was working on new trade and security partnerships, including with India, Qatar, Thailand, the Philippines, and trade alliances, as well as groupings such as Mercosur and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In his speech, Carney also alluded to the trade deal he signed last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

India-Canada ties have improved since Carney was elected Prime Minister last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Carney met in Johannesburg in November on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Following the meeting, India's Ministry of External Affairs said the two sides would initiate negotiations on a "high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa)" aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.