“This, I think, marks the culmination of the reset that was started by the two prime ministers when they met on the sidelines of the G7 in Alberta last year,” Swarup said, referring to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Carney. “But this visit is not just aiming at a reset; it is also aiming to elevate the bilateral partnership.”
He pointed out that the visit comes after months of quiet diplomatic engagement, including ministerial-level exchanges and at a time when Canadian media reports suggest Ottawa no longer believes India is engaged in activities that had earlier triggered the standoff. According to Swarup, the agenda this time is clearly substantive, spanning trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence and other emerging areas.The structure of the visit, with two days in Mumbai followed by engagements in Delhi, also carries a clear signal. Swarup said Carney’s itinerary underlines a sharp focus on economic ties. “This is a short, sharp, focused visit where Prime Minister Carney is undertaking extensive economic engagements, because one of the primary motivations of this visit is to expand the trade and investment partnership between India and Canada,” he said, adding that the Delhi leg would also be about building personal chemistry with Modi.
Trade talks are expected to be central to the discussions. Swarup said the first round of talks on the proposed India–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement could coincide with the visit. He noted that Canadian officials have publicly indicated an ambition to conclude and launch the trade agreement by the end of this year. In India, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has also said that both sides have finalised the terms of reference and are hoping to formally launch free trade agreement talks shortly.
Swarup argued that the global backdrop makes such a deal particularly important. With the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism largely paralysed and rising protectionism, countries are seeking more predictable and reliable trade partners. “From that point of view, countries are now looking for more predictable trade relationships,” he said.
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He added that India and Canada are well placed to deepen economic engagement because their economies are largely complementary. “Canada has the finances, technology, and resources, while India has the manpower and the market,” Swarup said. He said the ambition should go well beyond incremental gains, with a target of raising bilateral trade in goods and services from the current $30.8 billion to around $70 billion by 2030.
Taken together, Swarup said, Carney’s India visit signals a clear intent to turn the page and move the relationship onto a higher, more forward-looking trajectory. In his assessment, the trip is likely to mark a genuine turning point in India–Canada ties, anchored in business, investment and long-term strategic cooperation rather than crisis management alone.
Watch accompanying video for entire conversation.
