Mumbai

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday participated in an innovation showcase and interacted with university researchers in Mumbai as part of his four-day visit to India.

Carney, who arrived in Mumbai on February 27 on his first official visit to India, is scheduled to reach New Delhi on March 1. He will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on March 2.

Coinciding with his visit, India and Canada launched a Talent and Innovation Strategy aimed at strengthening cooperation in education, research and skills mobility.

Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said the initiative is both timely and consequential.

“India-Canada Talent and Innovation Strategy is timely, and it will be consequential. Its four pillars — embedding Canadian capability in Indian priority sectors, translating knowledge and talent into economic outcomes, deepening and rebalancing two-way mobility, and demonstrating credibility through speed and delivery — resonate strongly with our national priorities,” he said.

“India stands ready to work with Canada to build globally competitive talent, deepen research collaboration, strengthen skills mobility and foster innovation that addresses shared global challenges. We see this partnership not just as an education initiative, but as a shared investment in our shared future,” he added.

Renewed momentum in ties

Chaudhary expressed optimism about economic engagement between the two countries, saying there is renewed momentum in the right direction.

“I am hopeful about economic ties and more momentum in increasing our bilateral trade. There are many significant discussions ongoing, and we will see excellent results,” he said, adding that sectors with strong employment generation and trade potential stand to benefit.

He also noted that a high-powered delegation of leading Canadian universities recently visited India and held discussions with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Agenda for Modi-Carney talks

During their meeting, Modi and Carney will review progress under the India–Canada Strategic Partnership, building on their earlier interactions in Kananaskis in June 2025 and Johannesburg in November 2025.

The leaders are expected to take stock of cooperation across trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, education, research, innovation and people-to-people ties. They will also exchange views on regional and global developments.

Both Prime Ministers will attend the India–Canada CEOs Forum later in the day.

The visit comes at a significant moment in efforts to normalise bilateral relations. The two sides have previously agreed to pursue a constructive and balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect, strong people-to-people linkages and growing economic complementarities.

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According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and Canada for a forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership.