India-Canada trade registers growth amid diplomatic spat

In a significant development reflecting the resilience of bilateral economic ties, India-Canada trade witnessed a robust growth of 18.84% in the year 2023, according to the government data provided in Lok Sabha on Friday. India-Canada trade in goods was $8.2 billion in the first 10 months of 2023 as against $6.9 billion in 2022, registering a growth of 18.84 per cent, according to the official data.India's exports to Canada in 2023 (January to October) was $4.1 billion as against $3.76 billion in 2022 and the growth was estimated at 9.04 per cent, showed the data furnished by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.
The statistics came amid a severe downturn in ties between the two countries.India-Canada relations came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey city.Amid the backdrop of a diplomatic duel, the remarkable growth in India-Canada trade in 2023 reflects a silver lining amidst geopolitical tensions, highlighting the enduring strength of economic cooperation between the two nations.

(Ira Singh, Asstt Editor, Gandhinagar)