Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will undertake an official visit to Canada and the United States from August 25 to September 2, with the visit focusing on strengthening economic and financial partnerships, promoting investment and advancing cooperation on global economic priorities, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.
During the Canada leg of her visit, FM Sitharaman will travel to Toronto, where she will participate in the inaugural Economic and Financial Dialogue with Canadian Finance and National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
The dialogue will focus on macroeconomic developments, financial sector cooperation, bilateral investment opportunities and shared international priorities, and is expected to strengthen the economic and financial pillar of the renewed India-Canada partnership.
The two sides have also been exploring cooperation in areas such as energy, critical minerals, technology, innovation and resilient supply chains, along with ongoing efforts towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
FM Sitharaman will participate in an investment roundtable with senior representatives from the energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals sectors. The discussions will seek to promote business-to-business linkages, identify investment opportunities and facilitate long-term commercial partnerships, including opportunities in GIFT City-IFSC.
She will also participate in a business roundtable with senior Canadian business leaders on bilateral cooperation, long-term investment and financial-sector growth. Senior managing directors and chief executive officers of Indian public sector banks will also participate.
The Canadian Club of Toronto, in partnership with the Canada-India Business Council, will host a fireside conversation between FM Sitharaman and Champagne on shared economic interests, the investment climate, domestic economic priorities and the future trajectory of India-Canada economic and financial relations.
The Finance Minister is also scheduled to hold one-to-one meetings with CEOs and senior executives of Canadian companies to discuss investment opportunities, India’s growth prospects and avenues for expanding Canadian business presence in India.
She will also interact with the Indian community in Toronto during her visit.
FM Sitharaman to attend G20 Finance Ministers meeting in US
FM Sitharaman will begin the US leg of her visit on August 28, travelling to Chicago, Asheville and New York.
In Chicago, she will participate in a roundtable conference with prominent investors and engage with senior representatives of the private sector. One-to-one meetings with selected CEOs and company executives will also be held, focusing on India’s investment opportunities, economic outlook and ways to strengthen India-US business and investment partnerships.
She will visit the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, where she will exchange views on entrepreneurship, innovation, technology commercialisation and linkages with India’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
The Finance Minister will also interact with the Indian community in Chicago.
In Asheville, North Carolina, FM Sitharaman will lead the Indian delegation at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the US presidency of the G20. The meeting will be held on August 31 and September 1 and will bring together finance ministers, central bank governors and senior economic officials from G20 member countries.
The meeting will follow the G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies meeting scheduled for August 29-30.
India’s participation in the G20 Finance Track will provide an opportunity to contribute to discussions on global economic growth and stability, international financial cooperation and other issues affecting emerging and advanced economies.
Investor engagements in New York
In New York, FM Sitharaman will participate in an investor roundtable with CEOs and senior representatives of leading companies and hold one-to-one meetings with executives from the financial sector.
The discussions will focus on investment opportunities, India’s economic and financial landscape and strengthening financial and institutional linkages between India and the US.
During her New York visit, Nasdaq will host FM Sitharaman for a bell-ringing ceremony. The engagement is expected to provide an opportunity to gain insights into technology-driven financial markets and the evolving relationship between technology and capital markets.
The Finance Ministry said the overall visit is aimed at deepening India’s economic and financial engagement with Canada and the US while strengthening investment linkages and cooperation on shared global economic priorities.
