Post by : Badri Ariffin

India is setting the stage for a stronger partnership with Canada, targeting key sectors like clean energy, critical minerals, and emerging technologies. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that both countries’ complementary strengths create immense opportunities for businesses and investors.

India’s strategic push comes at a time when the nation is rapidly expanding its technological and energy capacities. With a national power grid of 500 GW, half of it clean energy, India is poised to provide the reliability needed for AI-driven infrastructure. The country aims to double its clean energy capacity to 1,000 GW by 2030, reinforcing its position as a dependable partner for sustainable energy solutions.

In the tech domain, India offers significant advantages in artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, and next-generation data centers. This is supported by the world’s largest annual pool of STEM graduates, making India a competitive hub for research and innovation. The government recently announced a $12 billion fund to further drive research and development, reinforcing the country’s role as a global innovation destination.

Economic fundamentals also support India’s appeal. From being listed among the “Fragile Five,” the country has emerged as one of the world’s top five economies, with expectations to become the third-largest within the next 2–2.5 years. Low inflation, a robust banking system, high foreign exchange reserves, infrastructure growth, and a booming stock market that has nearly quadrupled over the past decade underscore investor confidence.

Minister Goyal outlined a five-pronged strategy to strengthen India–Canada relations, emphasizing actionable outcomes, sector-specific roadmaps, and enhanced business-to-business partnerships. Key focus areas include critical minerals, aerospace, defense, manufacturing under the Make in India initiative, and joint innovation projects.

As India opens doors for Canadian participation in initiatives like the upcoming AI Summit, both nations appear poised to translate dialogue into tangible opportunities, building a future grounded in innovation, energy sustainability, and economic growth.

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