India, Canada to discuss movement of professionals, students

Canadian Minister of International Trade Mary Ng and Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, considering the importance of a comprehensive trade agreement, agree to have an in-depth discussion on the movement of professionals and students.

India and Canada have decided to conduct more in-depth discussions about skilled worker and student travel because these groups are vital to fostering closer economic relations between the two nations. Both leaders underlined a comprehensive trade agreement.

The two nations began talking again in 2022 about a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). In order to achieve that goal, negotiations for an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), which would serve as a preliminary step towards the CEPA, have been ongoing. A joint statement was issued after the meeting between the two leaders. 

“The Ministers noted the significant movement of professionals and skilled workers, students and business travellers between the two countries, and its immense contribution to enhancing the bilateral economic partnership. And in this context, (they) noted the desire for enhanced discussions in the area of migration and mobility,” according to the statement.

The Ministers concurred that government-to-government coordination is crucial to promoting the resilience of the supply chains for essential minerals and that cooperation in this area should be increased. 

“They also agreed to explore options for business-to-business engagement on critical minerals between the two countries and have committed to an annual dialogue at the officials level on the margins of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto,” it continued.