As India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, marked a historic 12 uninterrupted years in office — the longest run by any elected Indian prime minister — one congratulatory message stood out. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used the milestone to signal a fresh chapter in India-Canada ties, calling attention to the countries' renewed partnership and shared focus on prosperity.
Carney wrote on X: "Congratulations, Prime Minister @narendramodi, on becoming the longest-serving uninterrupted Indian prime minister in office. At a time when Canada and India are renewing their partnership, I am delighted at the prospect of continuing the work we are doing together to ensure greater prosperity for the people of our two countries."
The timing is notable. After years of diplomatic frost following the Hardeep Singh Nijjar controversy, New Delhi and Ottawa are steadily rebuilding bridges. Both countries have agreed to restore key diplomatic services and appoint new high commissioners, easing a period marked by visa disruptions and strained relations.
In his reply, Modi said, "Thank you, Prime Minister Carney, for your gracious words…I am confident that India-Canada partnership will continue to attain new heights for the benefit of our people."
For consumers, this reset could mean smoother travel, faster visa processing, and stronger business and education links. For the large Indian diaspora in Canada — and families with ties across both countries — that's more than diplomacy; it's a welcome thaw after a long winter.
Canada is home to nearly 2.8 million people of Indian origin, including around 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and roughly 1 million Indian nationals, many of them students. Together, they form a vital human link that strengthens cultural, educational, and economic ties between the two countries.
Economic reset may lower prices, boost opportunities
Carney's congratulatory note comes on the heels of both countries setting a target of $50 billion of bilateral trade by 2030. In FY2025-26, the bilateral trade between both countries was around US$8 billion, out of which India's exports were US$4.67 billion and imports stood at US$3.28 billion, according to data from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Both countries are in the midst of advancing the ongoing negotiations of the Comprehensive Economic & Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada. The proposed CEPA is essentially a roadmap to make trade, investment, and business between India and Canada easier and cheaper. If finalized, it could reduce tariffs on goods, simplify regulations, and encourage companies from both countries to invest and expand across borders.
For ordinary people, that can translate into more affordable products, greater choice, and new job opportunities as businesses grow. Indian consumers could see easier access to Canadian products, while Canadian consumers could benefit from more competitively priced Indian goods and services.
For the large Indian diaspora in Canada — pegged at 2.8 million — the impact could be even more tangible. Stronger economic ties often lead to increased business opportunities, smoother professional mobility, more student and research collaborations, and deeper commercial links for families and entrepreneurs with interests in both countries.
Canada's AI push could create 250,000 jobs by 2031
Canada is following India's lead in betting big on AI beyond tech giants. The country unveiled its new "AI for All" strategy, a plan designed to put artificial intelligence to work for businesses, workers, and communities alike. If the plan delivers, Canada's AI push could add nearly $200 billion to the economy by unlocking productivity and innovation across key industries.
The goal: create up to 250,000 jobs through AI adoption by 2031, including around 90,000 AI-focused jobs and work opportunities for young Canadians.
Think of it as Canada's attempt to make AI less of a sci-fi buzzword and more of an economic engine. The strategy aims to help small businesses and nonprofits embrace the technology, while dramatically increasing AI adoption among Canadian firms — from roughly 12% today to 60% by 2034.
For consumers, the payoff could come in the form of better services, smarter products, and a stronger job market. For Indian professionals, students, and startups with an eye on Canada, it could also mean fresh opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing AI ecosystems.
"AI for All is Canada's plan to make sure AI serves people, strengthens businesses and communities, and gives Canada more control over its future," the official statement said.
"Canada will work with reliable partners to develop and share standards, invest together in innovation, and help Canadian AI companies reach global markets — all while staying true to our democratic values," it added.
India, Canada align on AI push, digital innovation
Canada's "AI for All" strategy closely mirrors India's AI ambitions by focusing on job creation, wider AI adoption among businesses, support for startups and small businesses, and using AI to drive economic growth. In 2024, the South Asian nation approved roughly $1.24 billion for the IndiaAI Mission, slated over five years, to boost the country's AI ecosystem. Both countries view AI not just as a technology opportunity, but as a tool for boosting productivity, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and preparing their workforces for the future.
In 2025, India and Canada agreed to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and scientific research. The two countries plan to build partnerships that broaden access to AI and explore collaboration in digital public infrastructure (DPI), an area where India has developed globally recognized platforms such as Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
UPI, which powers billions of transactions each month and has expanded to several international markets, is increasingly being viewed as a model for digital payments innovation. Closer cooperation could open opportunities for knowledge-sharing and technology partnerships between the two countries.
India and Canada have also agreed to revive the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC), a platform that brings together researchers, innovators, and policymakers to advance collaboration in areas such as healthcare technologies, clean energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. The move signals a renewed push to strengthen innovation-led ties as India and Canada rebuild their broader relationship.
Energy partnership expands into clean tech
India and Canada are also deepening cooperation in energy, from traditional fuels such as LNG and LPG to cleaner alternatives like green hydrogen, biofuels, carbon capture, and electric mobility. For consumers, stronger collaboration could help improve energy security, support cleaner transportation, and accelerate the transition to more reliable and sustainable power systems in both countries.
This broader push is already translating into action. In a recent example, Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Canada's Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) have signed a collaboration framework to explore cleaner energy solutions, including carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), geothermal energy, and other emerging technologies.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Global Energy Show 2026 in Calgary, brings together OIL, a Maharatna public sector unit under India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and PTRC, a Saskatchewan-based non-profit energy research organization. Beyond clean energy research, the partnership will also examine geothermal projects, advanced oil recovery techniques, startup collaboration opportunities, and joint innovation in subsurface energy technologies.
The partnership highlights how India and Canada are moving beyond policy discussions to concrete projects that could support cleaner energy systems and long-term sustainability goals.
"Over the past 12 years, the people of India have witnessed for the first time that when a government is run with the right intent, development too happens at a rapid pace," Modi said on X.
"Over the years, the people of India have repeatedly voted for stability, good governance and development…I remain fully committed to working with even greater dedication to realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat (developed India) and fulfil the aspirations of 140 crore (1.4 billion) Indians," he added.