Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to India, Australia and Japan from February 26 to March 7, as part of efforts to diversify Canada’s trade, attract new investment and deepen strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, Carney will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the multi-nation visit.
The trip is aimed at expanding cooperation in key sectors including trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals and defence, as Canada seeks to build a more resilient and independent economy amid global uncertainty.
Carney will begin his visit in Mumbai before heading to New Delhi, where discussions with PM Modi are expected to centre on elevating bilateral ties through ambitious partnerships in trade, clean energy, AI, talent exchange, culture and defence. He is also scheduled to meet business leaders to promote investment opportunities in Canada and strengthen two-way commercial engagement.
India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, was Canada’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner in 2024, with bilateral trade valued at $30.8 billion. During the G20 Leaders’ Summit last year, the two countries agreed to formally launch negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, aiming to more than double trade to $70 billion by 2030.
In Australia, Carney will visit Sydney and Canberra, where he will meet Albanese to advance cooperation in defence and maritime security, critical minerals, advanced technologies and trade. He is also set to address both Houses of Australia’s Parliament – the first such address by a Canadian Prime Minister in nearly two decades – and engage with investors to attract capital into Canada.
Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Australia reached $6.1 billion in 2024, while Canadian direct investment in Australia totalled $58.8 billion.
Last year, Canada, India and Australia also entered into a trilateral technology and innovation partnership focused on strengthening collaboration in critical and emerging technologies and building resilient supply chains.
The final leg of the tour will take Carney to Tokyo, where he will meet Takaichi to enhance cooperation in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals and food security. Discussions are also expected to cover joint efforts on security and defence to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, is a key commercial partner for Canada, with annual bilateral trade worth $36.4 billion.
Carney said the visits reflect Canada’s strategy of diversifying trade and cultivating stronger global partnerships. “In a more uncertain world, Canada is focused on what we can control. We are diversifying our trade and attracting massive new investment to create new opportunities for our workers and businesses,” he said.
