The discussions focused on building resilient supply chains for clean energy technologies and strengthening collaboration in emerging industrial sectors aligned with India’s long-term vision of sustainable growth and net-zero targets.
Kumaraswamy said the automotive, heavy electrical and capital goods sectors are key pillars supporting India’s development roadmap and highlighted the country’s growing role in global automobile manufacturing. He noted that India has witnessed rapid adoption of electric vehicles, supported by government initiatives such as FAME-II, PM E-DRIVE and PM e-Bus Sewa, which aim to expand electric mobility, charging infrastructure and domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Development of holistic ecosystem
A major thrust of the talks was the development of a robust battery ecosystem and access to critical minerals required for clean energy technologies. Kumaraswamy said India has launched an incentive programme of nearly $2 billion to build indigenous capabilities in advanced chemistry cells and sees opportunities to collaborate with Canada in mineral sourcing and processing.
The Canadian side acknowledged India’s progress in battery technologies and clean mobility and expressed willingness to share advanced battery solutions with Indian partners. Canada also reiterated its readiness to support India’s requirements for lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements, which are crucial for the energy transition.
The two sides also discussed collaboration in battery cell and component manufacturing, research and development of next-generation batteries, critical mineral supply chains, testing and certification infrastructure, and sustainable manufacturing processes.
Senior officials from the Ministries of Heavy Industries and Steel, along with representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Canadian delegation, participated in the meeting.
