For sure. We very much support the government's efforts to conclude an early progress trade agreement with India. An EPTA that creates predictable and transparent policy in general for the trade in pulses between Canada, the world's largest pulse-exporting country, and India, the world's largest pulse consumer, would really be a major win for Canadian farm businesses and the entire pulse value chain in Canada.
We've also found, through our continued engagement with India stakeholders, that an EPTA that includes strong provisions regarding the trade in pulses would also be a win for India in ensuring the availability of pulses in an environment of increasing consumption. The minister will know that the projected demand for pulses in India is expected to rise to around 39 million tonnes by 2050, from the current demand of around 23 million tonnes. This presents an important opportunity for the Canadian pulse sector, which has been India's largest and most reliable pulse supplier.
It's really about how we can support their food security needs moving forward, and what type of predictable and transparent framework we can put in place to do so.