India and Canada on Monday agreed on a new roadmap to revitalise their bilateral partnership, signalling a major reset in ties after months of diplomatic strain. The announcement followed talks in New Delhi between External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, and was accompanied by a meeting between Anand and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a joint statement, the two countries said they had reached “consensus on a New Roadmap for India–Canada relations”, based on mutual respect for shared democratic values, rule of law, and sovereignty. The roadmap aims to restore stability in the relationship and pursue a “constructive and balanced partnership” across a range of sectors, including trade, energy, technology, agriculture, and education.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed Foreign Minister Anand, expressing confidence that her visit would “impart new momentum” to bilateral relations. He recalled his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit earlier this year, describing it as “extremely productive”. Modi also conveyed warm wishes to Carney and said he looked forward to future engagements.
The new roadmap builds upon a series of measures taken since August 2025 to normalise relations. These included the reinstatement of High Commissioners on 28 August, meetings between the National Security Advisers and senior officials in September, and a discussion between the two foreign ministers during the UN General Assembly in New York on 29 September.
“The meeting in New Delhi is a follow-up to the guidance provided by the Prime Ministers during their meeting at the G7 Summit,” the joint statement said, highlighting efforts to “restore stability” through calibrated engagement and respect for each other’s concerns.
The two ministers agreed that in an era of global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions, a strong and resilient India–Canada partnership would be essential. “Reviving this relationship will help create opportunities for enhanced economic cooperation, mitigate vulnerabilities from shifting global alliances, and reinforce strategic stability,” the statement said.
Trade and Investment: Key Pillars Of Renewal
Trade has been identified as the cornerstone of the renewed partnership. Bilateral trade between India and Canada reached USD 23.66 billion in 2024, supported by growing business ties and the expanding presence of Indian and Canadian companies in each other’s markets.
To build on this momentum, both sides agreed to begin ministerial-level discussions on trade and investment “at an early date”. They also decided to resume the Canada–India CEO Forum, which will bring together business leaders to recommend steps for increasing bilateral trade and investment. The Forum will convene alongside a senior-level trade mission in early 2026, focusing on clean technology, infrastructure, agri-food, and digital innovation.
Recognising the pivotal role of energy transformation, India and Canada reaffirmed their intention to deepen collaboration on clean, secure, and equitable energy development. Both sides will re-establish the Canada–India Ministerial Energy Dialogue, including a related Action Plan.
Key areas of cooperation will include promoting two-way trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), investing in oil and gas exploration, and advancing clean technologies such as green hydrogen, biofuels, and carbon capture. The two nations will also collaborate on electricity grid management, emission reduction, and energy efficiency.
Canada’s expertise in mining was identified as a potential asset for India’s critical minerals sector. The first Critical Minerals Annual Dialogue will be held in Toronto in March 2026, on the margins of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference.
Both sides also welcomed ongoing discussions on civil nuclear cooperation, including talks between India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Canadian uranium suppliers.
Climate change emerged as a central focus of the roadmap, with both countries agreeing to strengthen collaboration on renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction. “The two sides will work together to support joint climate and environmental goals that advance economic growth and job creation,” the statement said.
Planned initiatives include cooperation on decarbonising heavy industries, reducing plastic pollution, managing chemicals, and promoting sustainable consumption and production.
Technology, Innovation And Digital Infrastructure
Highlighting the role of innovation and technology in inclusive growth, the ministers agreed to relaunch the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee. The initiative will focus on expanding access to AI and promoting partnerships between researchers and companies in both countries.
Canadian AI firms and researchers have been invited to participate in India’s forthcoming AI Impact Summit in February 2026. The two sides will also explore collaboration in digital public infrastructure and cybersecurity.
In the agricultural sector, India and Canada are committed to promoting stable and sustainable supply chains, improving value chains, and enhancing food and nutritional security. The partnership will also focus on climate-resilient agriculture and the recycling of agri-waste into energy and organic fertilisers.
Both sides acknowledged the need for technological cooperation to boost farmers’ incomes and promote innovation in agri-food systems.
The ministers underscored the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties, long regarded as a foundation of India–Canada relations. Early initiatives will include renewed collaboration in higher education and research, with a particular emphasis on emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and fintech.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to democratic principles, rule of law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. “These efforts will contribute to rebuilding trust and deepening cooperation between the two countries,” the joint statement said.
The High Commissions and Consulates of both nations will strengthen institutional capacity by deploying experts across economic, defence, political, and technology domains to deliver on the shared agenda.
The ministers pledged to enhance collaboration on global issues and work towards “more effective and inclusive multilateral institutions”.
The visit of Foreign Minister Anita Anand marks a significant step in rebuilding diplomatic engagement after a period of strained relations. As Prime Minister Modi conveyed in his meeting with Anand, her visit “would contribute to ongoing efforts to impart new momentum to the India–Canada bilateral partnership”. |
