Making up for lost time

Making up for lost time

Context:

• Justice Trudeau , Canada’s  Prime Minister’s visit to India.

Introduction:

• This is his first trip to India after he became Prime Minister in 2015.

Khalistani issue:

• The ‘Khalistani’ issue has figured prominently between India and Canada at all levels.
• However, Canadian political leaders and parties continue to mollycoddle the Khalisanti elements in the quest for electoral gains.

Recent developments:

• Another welcome development in recent years has been a spike in investments by the well-endowed Canadian Pension Funds like CPPIB and CDPQ into India.
• Together, Canadian companies have have pumped in some $12-15 billion Canadian in India in sectors including real estate, financial services, distressed assets, modern logistics facilities and e-commerce.
• The bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA), which have been under negotiation for several years, will help in boosting economic partnership between the two countries.
• It would particularly open up the services sector allowing highly skilled Indian professionals, for whom there is a ready demand, to work in Canada.
• BIPPA is closer to finalisation, but India would prefer that both agreements be operationalised in one go.

A strategic partnership

• During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada in April 2015, both sides agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
• The ties essentially rest on 3Es — economy, energy and education.
• India has started importing uranium from Canada, beginning 2015.
• Canada also has sizeable reserves of oil and gas.
• Over time Canada could become a key partner in India’s quest for energy security.
• Indian students have begun heading for vocational and higher education to Canada in larger numbers.
• Canada routinely provides a three-year work visa upon completion of studies, which opens up avenues of gainful employment and citizenship.
• Canada also continues with a liberal immigration policy.
• In 2016, some 40,000 Indian immigrants were admitted into the country.
• Both nations also have some collaboration in agri-tech and much more can be done.

Way ahead:

• There is enough potential for stepping up cooperation in areas like information technology, science and technology, clean and green tech, aviation and outer space, cold-climate warfare, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and tourism.
• The need of the hour is to strengthen mutual trust and confidence, by taking a long-term view of the relationship.

Conclusion:

• India and Canada must use Justin Trudeau’s visit to take a long-term view of bilateral ties