Ottawa: Canada has described India as an important partner in its new Indo-Pacific strategy. Most of the focus has been on trade and housing. The strategy calls for a trade agreement at the primary level which could further turn into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement.
Canada will invest more in people-centric activities.
More than USD 70 million will be invested in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Islamabad and Manila to enhance visa issuance capacity. “Decisions in this area will affect Canadians for generations, and it is essential that Canada’s involvement in decisions should also be made,” Canada said in a statement.
There is, however, no mention of the defence and security partnership in the strategy.
As part of the strategy, Canada will invest more than $2 billion in the Indo-Pacific region over the next five years. Canada will increase the number of ships deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, strengthen ties at the military level and increase intelligence capabilities. Ottawa will invest more in border and cyber security.
In addition, Canada will strengthen its surveillance program with Australia, the US, the UK and New Zealand. The group of five countries will be active in protecting traffic in the East and South China Seas and upholding ‘over-flight’ rights. There are five goals of this strategy that are connected. India is part of this strategy on four points including environment, supply chains, people-to-people contact and trade.