Carney’s India First: Putting the World’s Fastest Economy at the Heart of Canada’s Future

Canada’s future economic prosperity increasingly depends on looking beyond traditional partners, and India is emerging as a pivotal player in that shift. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming high-level visit to India—starting in Mumbai and moving to New Delhi for meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi—coupled with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s recent public statement, signals a deliberate and strategic decision to place India at the center of Canada’s growth agenda.

Carney’s trip, running from February 26 to March 7, as part of a broader Indo-Pacific tour that also includes Australia and Japan, is explicitly framed around diversifying trade, attracting investment, and forging new partnerships in key sectors like energy, technology (including artificial intelligence), defense, and talent mobility. This comes at a time when Canada seeks to reduce its heavy reliance on the United States amid global trade uncertainties and shifting geopolitical dynamics. India, as the world’s fastest-growing major economy and already Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner (with bilateral goods and services trade reaching $30.8 billion in 2024), offers immense untapped potential. Official announcements highlight ambitions to more than double this trade volume in the coming years, targeting figures like CAN$70 billion by 2030 through ambitious new collaborations.

Adding weight to this pivot is Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s recent tweet, where she announced she will accompany the Prime Minister on the visit.

I will be returning to India with the Prime Minister this week to further diversify trade and to unlock additional opportunities for Canadians, including by elevating all sectors of the Canadian economy and enhancing our people to people ties.https://t.co/UoLyCKpjCy

— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) February 23, 2026

This statement is more than diplomatic courtesy—it’s a clear endorsement of India as a multifaceted partner essential to Canada’s economic resilience. Anand, who has previously engaged with her Indian counterpart on rebuilding momentum in bilateral relations, underscores the people-to-people dimension, which includes the large Indian diaspora in Canada that already bridges the two nations through culture, education, and business networks.

This renewed focus represents a pragmatic reset after periods of diplomatic strain, prioritizing mutual economic benefits over past tensions. For Canada, deepening ties with India means access to a massive market for Canadian resources (such as critical minerals and energy), opportunities in cutting-edge tech and AI innovation, and strengthened defense cooperation in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. In return, India gains a reliable partner in advanced energy transitions, skilled talent exchanges, and diversified investment inflows.

By leading with India on this tour—making it the first and most prominent stop—Carney’s government is sending an unmistakable message: in a world of economic fragmentation, strategic partnerships with dynamic, high-growth economies like India are not optional; they are central to securing Canada’s long-term prosperity and global relevance.

As these talks unfold, the outcomes could redefine Canada-India relations for a generation, turning shared opportunities into tangible growth for both nations. The time for hesitation is over—India is key to Canada’s future, and this visit marks the decisive step forward.