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India, Canada’s strategic interests ‘aligned’ says Canadian envoy
Canada's High Commissioner noted that diplomatic row with India did not impact their strategic interests
Despite an ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada, the long-term strategic interests of the countries are “absolutely aligned,” according to Cameron MacKay, Canada’s High Commissioner to India.
Mackay recently attended a seminar titled, ‘India-Canada Business: The way forward,’ organized by Indo Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC) on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.
During the seminar, MacKay advised both India and Canada to continue their diplomatic efforts.
“My advice to my government and that to the Indian government and business community on both sides is to let the governments do what they are doing, let the government do diplomacy but everyone knows that in the long term, Canada’s strategic interest and India’s strategic interest are absolutely aligned,” MacKay said.
In October 2020, Indian PM Modi gave a keynote speech at the Invest India Conference in Canada, noting that over 600 Canadian companies have invested in India and several others are actively pursuing business opportunities in the country.
The North American country is believed to be the 18th largest foreign investor in India with an overall investment of about US $3,306 million from April 2000 to March 2023. Canada was also India’s ninth-largest trading partner in 2022.
Diplomatic issues aside, India and Canada have fostered strong relations over the years. People of Indian origin form 5 percent of the Canadian population. It is also the preferred destination for Indian students to pursue higher education. Around 225,865 Indian students went to Canada from India in 2022. Indians were the highest receivers of the 548,875 student visas issued that year.
MacKay understated the issues that have cropped up between India and Canada when asked if the Canadian education sector will feel the effects of the diplomatic tensions. Tensions flared since September 2023 when Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament about the Indian government’s involvement in the assassination of a designated terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver. Nijjar was a Canadian resident and a supporter of the Khalistani movement. The countries have gone back and forth regarding the investigation of the matter ever since.
The High Commissioner reiterated that the cooperation between the countries remains strong, especially in the education sector. “It is not only about student flow but also about academic cooperation, which has been very strong historically. I anticipate this to continue and strengthen in the future,” he said, adding that Canadian universities are on their way to India to explore opportunities to set up campuses.
“I am really encouraged, by the leadership and the vision that business leaders here in the audience today and outside the room, to continue the trade and investment relationship that we’re growing quickly to make both our countries more prosperous. These growing commercial ties will support job creation. They’ll support technology partnerships, prosperity of both of our countries, which is what the young people in our country need more than anything,” MacKay added.
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