Ottawa: Indian Acting Consul General in Toronto, Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh, met with Victor Fedeli, Canada’s Minister of Economic Development, to discuss strengthening bilateral economic relations ahead of Fedeli’s upcoming trade mission to India.
Focus on Revitalising India–Canada Cooperation
According to a post by the Consulate General of India in Toronto on X,
“The discussion reflected the renewed and forward-looking cooperation in India–Canada relations, focusing on economic and business prospects across the India–Ontario corridor. The meeting also provided a timely overview ahead of the Minister’s upcoming trade mission to India.”
Canadian Minister Highlights Shared Opportunities
Following the meeting, Minister Fedeli wrote on X,
“It was great to meet with Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh, Acting Consul General of India in Toronto, ahead of our upcoming trade mission to India. We had an excellent discussion on the shared strengths of our two jurisdictions and the opportunities to deepen partnerships in energy, technology, healthcare, and life sciences.”
The interaction underscores growing optimism for restoring momentum in India–Canada economic ties through collaborative ventures and trade exchanges.
Recent Diplomatic Engagements Reinforce Dialogue
This development follows Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s visit to India on October 13, during which she met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in New Delhi to “restore and reinvigorate” mechanisms for advancing bilateral cooperation.
The two ministers agreed to work on an ambitious roadmap for India–Canada relations, building upon shared democratic values and mutual respect for sovereignty, the rule of law, and territorial integrity.
New Roadmap for Strategic Partnership
A joint statement released after the talks noted that both sides reached consensus on a ‘New Roadmap’ aimed at injecting momentum into the bilateral relationship.
It stated that amid global economic uncertainty and evolving geopolitical challenges, a strong and resilient India–Canada partnership was crucial.
“Reviving this partnership will not only create opportunities for enhanced economic cooperation but also help mitigate vulnerabilities arising from shifting global alliances, ensure more reliable supply chains, and reinforce strategic stability in an increasingly complex international environment,” the statement added.
Trade and Investment on the Rise
Both ministers also expressed satisfaction with the recent increase in bilateral trade, which reached USD 23.66 billion in 2024, alongside a growing presence of Indian and Canadian enterprises in each other’s markets.
This expansion, they noted, has been generating employment and holds significant potential for future growth.