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Canada Eyes Critical Minerals Partnership With India at AI Summit

Ed Jager, Head of Trade and Investment at the Canadian High Commission in India, emphasized significant opportunities for collaboration between Canada and India in the critical minerals sector. He stated that India possesses substantial reserves while Canada has the necessary skills and capabilities to supply growing demand. His comments were made on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, which gathered global stakeholders to discuss AI governance and its societal impact. The summit, guided by principles of People, Planet, and Progress, saw participation from over 110 countries and international organizations.

Key Points: Canada-India Critical Minerals Cooperation for Tech Growth

  • Critical minerals are vital for new tech
  • Canada offers skills & supply
  • Bilateral ties are growing strong
  • Summit focused on AI for humanity
  • Over 110 countries participated
2 min read

"New technology that we're developing today requires critical minerals... Canada has all of those": ED Jager, Head of Trade-Canadian High Commission in India

Canada's trade head highlights partnership opportunities with India on critical minerals & rare earths essential for new technologies at AI summit.

"India is a vast country with great stores of both critical minerals and rare earth elements. - Ed Jager"

New Delhi, February 19

Ed Jager, Head of Trade and Investment at the High Commission of Canada to India on Thursday highlighted the growing opportunities for collaboration between Canada and India in the field of critical minerals and rare earth elements, citing India's expanding technological and industrial needs.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of India AI Impact Summit, Jager said, "India is a vast country with great stores of both critical minerals and rare earth elements. There are lots of opportunities for Canada to work with India and to help supply India's needs as it grows bigger and better and faster."

He stressed the importance of such cooperation for the development of new technologies.

"It's important because all the new technology that we're developing today requires critical minerals. And critical minerals require special skills and abilities, and Canada has all of those," Jager added.

Jager also pointed to the strong and growing bilateral ties between the two nations.

"Canada and India have a wonderful relationship, and it's growing every day," he said.

The India AI Impact Summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world at New Delhi to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit, the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South, reflects on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with the national vision of "Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya" (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity. This summit is part of an evolving international process aimed at strengthening global cooperation on the governance, safety, and societal impact of AI.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is guided by three Sutras or foundational pillars - People, Planet, and Progress. These sutras articulate the core principles for global cooperation on artificial intelligence. They aim to promote human-centric AI that safeguards rights and ensures equitable benefits across societies, environmentally sustainable advancement of AI, and inclusive economic and technological advancement.

The Summit saw participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organizations, including about 20 HoS/HoG level participation, and about 45 Ministers.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see global cooperation, but we must be careful. We should develop our own "special skills and abilities" Mr. Jager mentions, not just be a supplier of raw materials. The value addition must happen here in India.
V
Vikram M
Hosting the first global AI summit in the Global South is a massive achievement for India. It shows our leadership in the tech space. Partnerships like this with Canada can help us leapfrog and set the global agenda for ethical AI.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in tech, this is exactly the kind of forward-thinking we need. Critical minerals are the new oil. Securing a stable supply chain with a friendly nation like Canada is strategic genius for India's manufacturing future.
R
Rohit P
Hope this leads to real jobs and tech transfer, not just talk. The "People, Planet, Progress" pillars sound great, but the benefits must reach our engineers and miners on the ground. Let's see the action on the ground.
K
Kavya N
Wonderful relationship? There have been some diplomatic bumps recently. But business and tech can be a bridge to smoother ties. Focusing on mutual growth in critical sectors is the way forward. Jai Hind!

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