Ankara:Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to make the first official bilateral visit by a Canadian leader to Trkiye. The visit, which begins on Wednesday, aims to strengthen political, diplomatic, and defense cooperation between the two countries with meetings scheduled with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Carney will also travel to Istanbul to engage with the Turkish business community, particularly those in aviation, advanced technologies, and critical minerals.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the visit follows recent diplomatic developments, including the initiation of free trade agreement talks between Trkiye and Canada during the NATO summit in Ankara in July. The two countries have ambitious trade targets, aiming for a short-term bilateral trade volume of $7 billion to $8 billion and a long-term goal of $10 billion, contingent on a successful free trade agreement.

In terms of trade, the total trade volume between Trkiye and Canada surpassed $2.7 billion last year. Turkish exports to Canada accounted for $1.5 billion, with boilers, machinery, mechanical appliances, and tools being the top categories. Canadian exports to Trkiye were valued at $1.1 billion. The two nations have also discussed potential collaborations in the energy sector, including nuclear energy initiatives, as highlighted in discussions between Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu in June.

Investment relations between the countries show an asymmetry, with Canada's direct investments in Trkiye totaling 3.3 billion Canadian dollars as of 2025, while Turkish investments in Canada were significantly lower at 233 million Canadian dollars. Additionally, the tourism sector reflects the growing bilateral relationship, with the number of Canadian visitors to Trkiye increasing by 6.1% in 2025 and continuing to rise by 2.9% in the first eight months of 2026.