Johannesburg– Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday, where he said India has set an ambitious goal of achieving 50 billion USD in bilateral trade with Canada by 2030.
In a post on X, Modi described the meeting as “very productive” and said both sides noted the strong momentum in their partnership since they last met at the G7 Summit hosted by Canada. He added that India and Canada are committed to advancing cooperation in the coming months.
Modi said the two countries see substantial scope in boosting trade and investment ties, and highlighted the growing interest Canadian pension funds have shown in Indian companies. He said both sides have agreed to deepen collaboration in key sectors, including defence and space, and plan to meet again soon.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and other senior officials attended the meeting.
On Saturday, Modi joined Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Carney to launch the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership in Johannesburg. The initiative aims to deepen cooperation between the three democracies on emerging technologies, critical supply chains, clean energy, and artificial intelligence.
Earlier this month, Jaishankar met Anand at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara and expressed optimism over revitalising the bilateral partnership. He praised the progress made under the New Roadmap 2025, a joint plan to strengthen India-Canada relations.
In recent weeks, officials from both sides have stressed the importance of restoring mechanisms for strategic and economic cooperation at a time of geopolitical uncertainty. A joint statement released in October underscored a shared commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Modi and Carney also held bilateral talks in June on the margins of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, followed by the appointment of new High Commissioners in New Delhi and Ottawa. (Source: IANS)
