Ottawa [Canada], January 27 (HBTV): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in the first week of March, according to a report by The Globe and Mail, citing Reuters.
The report said the visit is likely to see the signing of agreements covering uranium, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, was quoted as saying that formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are also expected to begin in March.
Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, who is visiting India this week, confirmed that Carney would travel to India but did not specify dates. ‘There are plans for the Prime Minister to visit at some point this year, it will depend on the progress we make,’ Hodgson said in an interview.
According to the report, Patnaik said Carney could sign agreements related to nuclear energy, oil and gas, environment, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, as well as cooperation in education and culture. A 10-year uranium supply agreement valued at USD 2.8 billion is also likely to be part of the discussions.
While Hodgson did not confirm the uranium deal, he said Canada was prepared to sell uranium under the Canada-India nuclear cooperation agreement, provided India complies with International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
Patnaik also said visits by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Canada are expected soon, and that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to visit Ottawa next month as part of regular engagements to exchange intelligence and discuss security cooperation.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in areas such as economic partnership, artificial intelligence and high-level exchanges.
India and Canada have agreed to begin negotiations on a high-ambition Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, aimed at increasing bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030.
(ANI)