Nirmala Sitharaman to visit Canada, US for economic talks
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Canada and the United States from August 25 to September 2 to discuss bilateral economic and financial cooperation, investment opportunities and global economic priorities. She will also represent India at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting.
Sitharaman will begin her visit in Toronto, where she will take part in the first Economic and Financial Dialogue with Canadian Finance and National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
The discussions will focus on macroeconomic developments, financial-sector cooperation, bilateral investment opportunities and shared global priorities. The dialogue is also expected to strengthen the economic and financial component of the renewed India-Canada relationship.
India and Canada have recently explored cooperation in areas such as energy, critical minerals, technology, innovation and resilient supply chains, alongside efforts to advance negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Sitharaman will also participate in investment roundtables with Canadian business leaders from sectors including energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals. Discussions will include investment opportunities in India, including those linked to GIFT City-IFSC, as well as greater financial-sector collaboration.
She is also scheduled to hold one-on-one meetings with Canadian CEOs and senior executives to discuss India's economic growth, investment prospects and opportunities for Canadian businesses in the country. An interaction with the Indian diaspora in Toronto is also planned.
From August 28, Sitharaman will travel to the US, visiting Chicago, Asheville and New York. In Chicago, she will meet investors and business leaders to discuss India's economic outlook, investment opportunities and stronger commercial partnerships.
She will also visit the University of Chicago's Polsky Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to discuss entrepreneurship, technology commercialisation and potential links with India's startup ecosystem.
In Asheville, North Carolina, Sitharaman will lead India's delegation at the G20 FMCBG meeting on August 31 and September 1. The meeting, being held under the US presidency of the G20, will focus on global economic growth, financial stability and international economic cooperation.
Her final stop will be New York, where she will hold investor meetings and engage with senior executives from the financial sector. She is also scheduled to participate in a bell-ringing ceremony at NASDAQ and discuss developments in technology-driven financial markets.
The visit comes as India seeks to strengthen economic ties with Canada and the US while attracting greater foreign investment and expanding international business partnerships.
with inputs from PTI
