CANADA-INDIA RELATIONS: TIME FOR A THAW AFTER THE DEEP FREEZE

With Mark Carney taking the helm as Canada's new Prime Minister, an overdue opportunity has arrived to reset and reimagine Canada-India relations.

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The recent invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis is not just symbolic-it signals a potential thaw in the diplomatic chill that has hampered meaningful progress between two democracies with massive potential for collaboration.

Canada and India are natural partners-linked by democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and complementary economic strengths. Yet, recent tensions, bureaucratic inertia, and political missteps have strained the relationship. It is now imperative for both nations to act decisively to rebuild trust and leverage their partnership to address shared challenges in trade, education, innovation, and strategic security.

Trade and Economic Synergies Waiting to be Realized: Despite the setbacks, the fundamentals of economic cooperation remain strong. Canadian pension funds have invested billions in Indian infrastructure, technology, and energy sectors. India, one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, offers a vast consumer market and a booming startup ecosystem. In turn, Canadian companies and institutions-especially in fintech, clean energy, agritech, AI and pulses-stand to gain significantly from greater access to Indian markets.