Canada Eyes Expanded Karnataka Partnerships in Quantum Computing, AI, Aerospace, Defence

Canadian companies are looking to expand their partnerships with Karnataka in emerging technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, aerospace and defence, Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said.

The minister said Canada had the talent and technological expertise to support India’s growth ambitions. His remarks signal a focus on technology-led cooperation between Canadian companies and partners in Karnataka.

Trade mission focuses on technology partnerships

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

According to Sidhu, one of the key priorities is the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, for which negotiations are being pursued by both governments.

He said the agreement could help more than double bilateral trade to $70 billion by 2030. Sidhu described that ambition as “transformational” rather than incremental.

The proposed agreement is therefore being presented alongside wider efforts to strengthen commercial ties in technology, investment and other sectors. The minister’s comments linked the trade negotiations with the broader economic relationship between the two countries.

Canadian investment in India

Sidhu also highlighted the growing role of Canadian institutional investors and pension funds in India. Their investments were spread across infrastructure, healthcare, technology, clean technology and energy, he said.

Canadian investments in India across these areas were estimated at approximately $107 billion, according to the minister. He presented that figure as part of the existing economic relationship between Canada and India.

The trade mission also produced business outcomes involving Canadian delegates and Indian partners. Sidhu cited more than 30 agreements, together valued at nearly 300 million Canadian dollars.

He also pointed to Fairfax’s proposed acquisition of a majority stake in IDBI Bank. The proposed acquisition was valued at close to 8 billion Canadian dollars, or ₹52,878 crore. Sidhu described the transaction as an indication of investor confidence in India’s financial sector.

Canada explains immigration approach

Responding to a media query about the visa crackdown and Canada’s efforts to remove friction points for Indian students and professionals, Sidhu said Canada had set out a mission during the election last year.

He said the government had promised citizens that it would bring more control to the country’s immigration system. At the same time, he said international students were welcome, but that their intake had to be sustainable.

“That is what we set out to do in our budget, and that is reflected in our policies,” he said.

Sidhu said Canada needed 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.

He said Canada’s focus was on ensuring quality in its immigration system. According to Sidhu, this did not mean Canada was not welcoming immigrants; it meant there should be quality.

“As a government, we are focused on economic immigration,” the minister said. Discussions with provinces and territories had highlighted a significant need for physicians and nurses in Canada’s healthcare sector, he added.

Source: The Hindu