New Delhi: India and Canada signalled renewed momentum in bilateral trade negotiations, with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighting progress towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).<\/p>\n
In a post on X on Monday (local time), Goyal said he called on Carney and conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi while discussing ways to deepen ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalled on the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark J Carney, and conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fondly recalled his recent visit to India, which has imparted fresh momentum and renewed confidence to the India-Canada partnership,\u201d Goyal said.<\/p>\n
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He added, \u201cWe had forward-looking discussions on further deepening bilateral cooperation and expressed optimism towards the early conclusion of the India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which would unlock new avenues of growth and prosperity for both nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Union Minister\u2019s X post came in response to the Canadian Prime Minister\u2019s X post on Monday (local time), where he emphasised the economic significance of the proposed trade pact, and described it as \u201ca game changer\u201d for Canadian industries and workers.
In a post on X, Carney said, \u201cWe\u2019re negotiating a free trade deal with India. This will be a game changer for Canadian workers and businesses \u2014 unlocking a massive new market.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canadian Prime Minister added that both sides were moving quickly in the negotiations and exploring collaboration across multiple sectors.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cWe\u2019re working fast \u2014 I met Minister @PiyushGoyal to review our progress so far and explore the opportunities ahead for both our countries in energy, agri-food, tech, and education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, Union Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal commenced his three-day visit to Canada, as New Delhi and Ottawa focus on resetting their ties with an aim to conclude the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of this year.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the press with Canada\u2019s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, Piyush Goyal highlighted the steps taken from both sides to rejuvenate the relationship, mentioning Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney\u2019s visit to India in February 2026, which he said set in \u201cmotion the pathway of this relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Underlining the objectives, Goyal said that India not only aims to conclude the trade agreement by the end of this year but also wants to triple the trade between the two countries by 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the visit of Canadian PM Mark Carney in India just a couple of months ago. It completely changed the way India and Canada looked at each other. It has set in motion the pathway of this relationship, setting a new agenda, new goals in mission mode. I can clearly see the speed and intent of both sides.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur PMs (Indian PM Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney) have tasked us with not only completing the free trade agreement with a comprehensive outlook before the end of this year or earlier but tripling our trade from a current USD 17 million to USD 50 million by 2030,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Goyal said that he has arrived in Ottawa with the largest Indian business delegation in the country\u2019s history, showcasing India\u2019s commitment towards the relationship. He also expressed confidence in the leadership of Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, to drive rapid progress in the relationship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve come with the largest ever business delegation that stepped out of India ever in our history. 112 Indian businesses have taken off from India. This clearly demonstrates that there\u2019s a huge interest in this partnership. This is a relationship that\u2019ll be very important in the years to come. I have full confidence that under Maninder\u2019s leadership, we will make rapid progress,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Union Minister\u2019s arrival in Ottawa commences a three-day official visit from 25 to 27 May, taking place as New Delhi and Ottawa aggressively push ahead with negotiations for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), viewed as a vital step in rejuvenating economic relations between the two nations. (ANI)<\/p>\n
This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.<\/p>\n