PM Modi and Canadian FM Anand Aim to Finalize CEPA by Year-End

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met in New Delhi to discuss advancing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada, aiming to finalize the deal by the end of 2026. Their talks emphasized boosting bilateral trade and cooperation in several critical sectors including energy, education, technology, culture, and security.

This meeting marked the second time Anand and Modi had engaged in discussions focused on deepening the India-Canada strategic partnership. The Canadian government released a statement on Thursday highlighting the productive nature of the talks and the mutual commitment to strengthen ties across multiple domains.

One key point of discussion was the ongoing Team Canada Trade Mission to India, led by Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. This mission represents an active effort to expand economic collaboration and build stronger connections in the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders recognized this trade mission as a significant milestone in fostering increased bilateral trade and cooperation.

"Minister Anand and Prime Minister Modi discussed the importance of concluding a comprehensive economic partnership agreement by the end of the year and highlighted the Team Canada Trade Mission led by International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu as a tangible example of growing the economic partnership," the Canadian government’s statement read. "This initiative supports the expansion of bilateral trade and advances Canada's broader engagements in the Indo-Pacific."

Following their meeting, Prime Minister Modi described the discussions as productive and reiterated India's dedication to nurturing a forward-looking and constructive partnership with Canada. Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Pleased to meet Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. We had a productive discussion on further strengthening India-Canada ties in trade, technology, security, energy, education and people-to-people exchanges." He added that India is committed to building a strategic partnership with Canada that will deliver tangible benefits to citizens of both countries.

Foreign Minister Anand also took to X to express optimism about the partnership's potential. She underscored the opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, and security, saying, "Canada and India have enormous potential to shape a more prosperous future, together. I had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today to discuss our strategic partnership and the opportunities ahead for trade, investment and security."

Anand reflected on the long history of diplomatic relations between the two nations and recent high-level visits, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit earlier this year and the ongoing trade mission. She described these engagements as evidence of a shared ambition to convert common priorities into lasting benefits for both countries. Anand also noted Canada’s anticipation of welcoming PM Modi during his scheduled visit in December.

During their discussions, the leaders touched on cooperation in energy, education, culture, and technology. They also welcomed a recent bilateral security dialogue held in India as part of continued collaboration on security and law enforcement issues at the National Security Advisor level.

PM Modi’s upcoming visit to Canada, planned for December 11-12, 2026, was confirmed by the High Commission of India in Ottawa. This visit follows a telephone conversation earlier this year between Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, where they agreed to build on positive momentum in bilateral relations and pursue concrete results across sectors such as trade, energy, technology, security, and people-to-people connections.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office stated that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to conclude CEPA negotiations as soon as possible and support efforts to double bilateral trade by 2030. The CEPA is viewed as a critical step toward enhancing economic ties and unlocking new opportunities for businesses and citizens in both countries.

India and Canada maintain a strong partnership that spans decades, characterized by shared values and increasing collaboration. Agreements like CEPA are designed to foster growth, create jobs, and enhance security cooperation, reflecting the evolving global economic and geopolitical landscape.