Cameron Mackay was talking on the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (File)

Gandhinagar:

Canada’s High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay on Thursday mentioned however the latest tensions, the strategic pursuits of India and Canada are “absolutely aligned”, and he was inspired by the continuance of bilateral commerce and funding relationship.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘India-Canada Business: The Way Forward’ on the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit right here, he mentioned this annual gathering of traders was a “great platform to reassert our business to business and people to people ties.”

The relations between the 2 international locations noticed some bitterness final 12 months following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation about India’s suspected involvement within the killing of Khalistani separatist and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in his nation. India denied the allegation as absurd.

“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,” Mr Mackay mentioned.

The business-to-business ties will help job creation, expertise partnership and prosperity of each the international locations, he 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,” the excessive commissioner mentioned.

“In the meantime let’s have business to business ties. We should work together to make our business and nations friendly again,” he added.

Business relations between the 2 international locations have remained unaffected by the diplomatic row, Mr Mackay mentioned.

“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,” he mentioned.

Former Indian excessive commissioner to Pakistan and Canada Ajay Bisaria mentioned the tensions between the 2 international locations appear to be a short lived section.

“Though there is a glitch between the two countries in the political relationship, the business is going on and the message from the top leadership of both the countries is clear that the business has to go on and none of the stuff in the political space will impact the business relationship,” he mentioned on the seminar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)