Canada's High Commissioner to India, Cameron Mackay on Thursday claimed that the strategic interests and business relations between India and Canada are "absolutely aligned" despite recent tensions.
Mackay attended the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit seminar titled 'India-Canada Business: The Way Forward' where he said that similar seminars encourage sustained growth of the bilateral trade and investment relationship.
What did Canada's High Commissioner say?
As per PTI reports, Cameron Mackay said, "In the past months it has been a time of some tensions between our two countries. It is no secret. But I am encouraged by leadership and vision of business community present here and outside the room to continue with trade and investment relationship which is in the interest of both of our countries."
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He also mentioned that the connections between businesses will contribute to the generation of employment, the formation of technology partnerships, and the overall prosperity of both nations.
He further added, "My advice to my government and that to the Indian government and business community on both sides is to let the governments do what they are doing, let the government do diplomacy but everyone knows that in the long term, Canada's strategic interest and India's strategic interest are absolutely aligned."
Mackay suggested that the two countries to have business-to-business ties along with working together in a friendly manner. He also claimed that the recent diplomatic row did not affect the business relations between India and Canada.
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He said, "Over 100 Indian companies have invested in Canada and over 600 Canadian companies are present in India. Yesterday, I visited the McCain plant here in Gujarat."
Diplomatic row between India and Canada
Last year, relations between the two countries faced challenges when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations regarding India's suspected involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated as a terrorist in Canada.
India firmly denied these allegations.
