India-Canada strategic Dialogue

Context– Prior to the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in March in New Delhi, the bilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of India and Canada, dubbed the “India-Canada Strategic Dialogue,” recently took place.

Key Highlights 

• Given the shared objective of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, India welcomed Canada’s release of its Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• What were the Meeting’s High Points?
• The Ministers talked about expanding our close inter-ethnic ties, promoting security cooperation, facilitating migration and mobility, and deepening our economic collaboration.
• India is a crucial partner for Canada in the Indo-Pacific, according to the Canadian FM. In exchange, Canada can be a dependable source of vital minerals, a powerful ally in the transition to a greener economy, and a sizable investor.
• Objectivity of the Meeting
• After a freeze between 2020 and 2022, the Canadian FM’s visit is anticipated to open the door for a sustained reset in India-Canada relations.
• The freeze was sparked by a number of issues, including attacks on Canadian Khalistani groups’ targets of Indian ancestry, Canadian remarks regarding Indian farmer demonstrations, and India’s suspension of diplomatic discussions in retaliation.
• When Canada allowed a Khalistani independence “referendum” in 2022, New Delhi complained and retaliated with a travel warning that cautioned against hate crimes in Canada.
• Both nations welcome the “Early Progress Trade Agreement” (EPTA) as a first step towards the “Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement” (CEPA), in addition to attracting investment from Canadian capital.
• None of the official statements addressed the issue of Khalistani activities in Canada, which has contributed to the strained relationship between India and Canada.
• India’s strategic importance will only grow as the country’s economy grows, giving Canada and India more chances to strengthen their relationship.
• Both nations have a suspicion of China and want to strengthen their supply chains, expand trade ties, and encourage more people to move between them.

What is the Indo-Pacific Policy of Canada?

• Canada unveiled a new Indo-Pacific strategy that focuses on the following four areas: ASEAN, China, India, Japan, Korea, and the North Pacific
• Canada has the largest diaspora, with 60% of international students and one in five Canadians having family ties to the Indo-Pacific region.
• The strategy praises India’s shared tradition of democracy and pluralism while speaking forcefully about China’s challenge to the international rules-based order and human rights.
• However, Canada acknowledges that China is its primary export destination and that cooperation with China is necessary on health and climate change issues.

Funding:

• Over the course of five years, Canada’s strategy calls for a funding commitment of $1.7 billion for infrastructure projects, increased military presence, and increased participation in regional military exercises.

Objectives:

• Bolster stability, resilience, and peace.
• Increase the resilience of supply chains, investments, and trade.
• Connect people and invest in them.
• Create a future that is green and sustainable.
• Be a partner in the Indo-Pacific that is involved and active.

How are relations between India and Canada?

• Political:

• • • India and Canada have similar structures and procedures for their parliaments. Mr. Raj Saini, a member of the House of Commons, will serve as the Chair of the Canada-India Parliamentary Association following the general election in October 2019.
    • The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi represents Canada in India.
    • India has consulates in Toronto and Vancouver as well as a High Commission in Ottawa.

• Economic:

• • • In 2020, trade between India and Canada will amount to USD 6.4 billion. India ranked as Canada’s 13th largest trading partner and 14th largest export market in 2021.
    • More than 1,000 Canadian businesses are actively pursuing business in the Indian market, and over 400 Canadian businesses have a presence in India.
    • Indian businesses operate in Canada’s software, steel, natural resources, banking, and information technology sectors.
    • Pharma, iron and steel, chemicals, gems and jewelry, nuclear reactors, and boilers are among the goods that India exports to Canada.
    • Uranium, natural gas, oil, coal, minerals, and cutting-edge hydropower, mining, renewable energy, and nuclear energy technologies are among the most abundant resources in Canada.

• Technologies and Sciences:

• • • Promotion of industrial R&D and the creation of new IP (intellectual property) processes, prototypes, or products has been the primary focus.
    • Under the IC-IMPACTS program, the Department of Biotechnology conducts joint research projects in agri-biotech, waste management, and health care.
    • The first and only Canada-India research center of excellence is IC-IMPACTS, which stands for the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability.
    • A program for scientific research on Cold Climate (Arctic) Studies has been launched by the Department of Earth Science and Polar Canada.

• Space:

• • • In the area of space exploration and utilization, MOUs have been signed by ISRO and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
    • -A number of nanosatellites have been launched from Canada by ANTRIX, ISRO’s commercial arm.
    • The Canadian first LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite was also launched by ISRO’s 100th satellite PSLV in 2018 from the Indian spaceport of Sriharikota.

• Protection and defense:

• • India and Canada work closely together in international forums, especially the United Nations, Commonwealth, and G-20.
  • In 2015, DRDO and Canada’s Defence Research and Development Council signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to work together.
  • In 2018, the Framework for Cooperation Between India and Canada on Countering Terrorism enhanced security cooperation.
  • Through the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism, in particular, there is a lot of involvement in issues related to the fight against terrorism.

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