Toronto/CMEDIA: Dedicated to building the full potential of Canada India bilateral, Canada India Foundation (CIF) welcomes Renewed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Negotiations, CIF chair Ritesh Malik said.
Encouraged by this week’s policy directions following the meeting of Canada PM Mark Carney and India PM , Narendra Modi, in Johannesburg, South Africa on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Malik welcomed the positive statements from both Prime Ministers.
Malik added, “What we are witnessing here is a relationship…being revived with the speed of light…both countries have achieved together…needs to be applauded…The entire Indo Canadian community as well as all of Canada can take comfort in the fact that our leadership is…laying a new path forward for the benefit of all of us… hopeful that the stalled Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is back on the agenda.”
Having served as an advisor to the negotiations committee in the past, CIF is confident that once implemented, this agreement will be a game changer for the Canada–India relationship
The breakthrough in the relationship first came following the meeting of Carney and Modi at the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis in June 2025.
During their meeting in New Delhi in October, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand and India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar announced a new roadmap for bilateral engagement.
Building on the 7th Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment held in New Delhi, India, on November 13, 2025, the leaders agreed to formally launch negotiations for an ambitious CEPA encompassing goods, services, investment, agriculture and agri-food, digital trade, mobility, and sustainable development.
Expressing confidence, the leaders said that the CEPA will serve as a powerful economic anchor and help more than double two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030.
The joint statement issued in Johannesburg stressed on the importance of regular reciprocal high-level visits, including by ministers and members of the business community.
Carney also accepted Modi’s invitation to visit India in early 2026.
“The trilateral agreement will deepen their respective ambition and strategic collaboration towards net zero and drive further diversification of supply chains towards a secure, sustainable, and resilient future. The partnership will also examine the development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the lives of our citizens,” said Pankaj Dave, National Convener, CIF
Officials from the three countries will convene in the first quarter of 2026 to take the initiative forward.
