Evian, June 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at a potential visit to Canada during the G7 summit in Evian, France. He expressed hope that the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Canada would be finalized and signed before his trip.
During his meeting with Canadian counterpart Mark Carney at the G7 summit, PM Modi remarked, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Our first meeting was at the G7, and now, a year later, we meet again. As you mentioned, we have met four times and have had ongoing discussions over the phone. We have made good progress as friendly nations. I appreciate your concern and support for the Indian community, which has always made a positive contribution.”
PM Modi added, “You are right; we are very excited about the Free Trade Agreement. You have invited me to Canada, and I am trying to make that visit this year. Let’s finalize this agreement before my trip. We want to advance significantly in technology. Canada can also be a major partner for India in energy security. We will discuss all these topics in detail today.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders reviewed the positive progress in bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen trade, energy, innovation, education, and people-to-people connections.
Mark Carney stated that both countries are making good progress towards finalizing the Free Trade Agreement. He noted, “In one year, we have met on four continents. The G7 summit in Kananaskis set a high goal for our relations. I am grateful for the warm welcome you extended to me a few months ago. I also invite you to Canada and would be honored to welcome you. We are consistently making good progress.”
India and Canada have signaled a new momentum in their relationship, with both leaders expressing confidence that the Free Trade Agreement will be completed soon. Carney mentioned, “Prime Minister Modi likes to set deadlines, and so do I. Therefore, we have set a goal to complete this agreement by the G20 summit. Our teams are working towards this. During our discussions, we feel that much more can be achieved through university collaborations, cultural exchanges, and business partnerships. The largest trade delegation from India has visited Canada, and a larger delegation from Canada is set to visit India. You have aimed to double trade between our countries by the end of the decade. We believe we can achieve even more through this partnership.”
Last month, Carney stated that the Free Trade Agreement with India would be a significant change for Canadian workers and businesses. After meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in Ottawa, Carney wrote on social media, “We are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with India. This will be a major opportunity for Canadian workers and businesses, opening the door to a vast new market.”
Carney reported that both sides reviewed the progress of negotiations and discussed new opportunities in sectors such as energy, agriculture, technology, and education.
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