Canada keen to deepen partnerships with Karnataka quantum computing, AI, aerospace and defence: Trade Minister Maninder Sindhu

Canadian companies are keen to deepen partnerships with Karnataka in emerging technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace and defence, Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said on Friday, asserting that Canada had the talent and technological expertise to support India’s growth ambitions.

Mr. Sidhu, who was in the city as part of a high-level Canadian trade mission to India, said Canada and India had complementary economic strengths and were well positioned to build stronger partnerships at a time when global trade patterns were being reshaped.

According to Mr. Sidhu, a key priority is the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), negotiations for which are being pursued by both governments. He further said the agreement could help more than double bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030, describing the ambition as “transformational” rather than incremental.

He also highlighted the growing role of Canadian institutional investors and pension funds in India’s infrastructure, healthcare, technology, clean technology and energy sectors. Canadian investments in India across these areas were estimated at approximately $107 billion, he said.

The Minister cited a series of business outcomes from the mission, including more than 30 agreements between Canadian delegates and Indian partners, together valued at nearly 300 million Canadian dollars. He also pointed to Fairfax’s proposed acquisition of a majority stake in IDBI Bank, valued at close to 8 billion Canadian dollars, (₹52,878 crore) as an indication of investor confidence in India’s financial sector.

Responding to a media query on visa crackdown and what was Canada’s efforts to remove friction points to make it easier for Indian students and professionals, the Minister said on immigration, Canada set out a mission during the election last year and promised citizens that it would bring more control to its immigration system. He also said international students were welcome but intake has to be sustainable.

“That is what we set out to do in our budget, and that is reflected in our policies. We need to consider the local impact of immigration on infrastructure, healthcare and housing. When people visit your country, you want to be able to host them, and that requires the necessary infrastructure,” he added.

Canada’s focus was on ensuring quality in its immigration system, however, he said that won’t mean the country was not welcoming immigrants, it meant there should be quality. “As a government, we are focused on economic immigration. Discussions with provinces and territories have highlighted the significant need for physicians and nurses in Canada’s healthcare sector,” the Minister added.