Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday, marking his first official visit to India and signalling renewed momentum in India–Canada relations. He was accompanied by his wife, Diana Fox Carney, and received at the airport by Maharashtra’s Minister of Protocol and Marketing, Jaykumar Rawal.

Welcoming the visit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described it as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties. In a post on X, he noted that the India–Canada partnership is rooted in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people connections, and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

Carney’s visit comes at a crucial time, following a period of diplomatic strain under the previous Canadian administration led by Justin Trudeau. The trip is widely seen as an effort to stabilise relations and inject fresh energy into economic and strategic engagement between the two countries.

According to a statement from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, Carney will meet leading business figures in Mumbai before travelling to New Delhi for high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2. The discussions are expected to focus on elevating bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), talent mobility, culture, and defence.

Carney will also participate in the India–Canada CEOs’ Forum, aimed at identifying new investment opportunities and fostering partnerships between businesses in both nations. The Canadian government highlighted India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy and a key player in global commerce and technology.

In 2024, India was Canada’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $30.8 billion. Both sides have set an ambitious target of $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Prime Minister Modi has previously underscored the vast potential for strengthening trade and investment linkages, noting the growing interest of Canadian pension funds in Indian companies.

Diplomatic engagement has intensified in recent months. Earlier, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, marking their fifth meeting since September 2025. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to implementing a joint roadmap to deepen cooperation in energy, technology, and trade.

Carney’s visit reflects a shared determination to expand and diversify economic ties while reinforcing a partnership built on over 75 years of diplomatic relations.