Sitharaman Embarks on 9 Day Economic Tour

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will travel to Canada and the United States from August 25 to September 2, with strengthening economic and financial ties, attracting investment and advancing India’s position on global economic issues forming the key themes of her visit, according to the Finance Ministry.

The Canada leg will begin in Toronto, where Sitharaman will participate in the inaugural India-Canada Economic and Financial Dialogue with Canadian Finance and National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne.

Sitharaman will participate in an Investment Roundtable with senior representatives from the energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals sectors, focusing on identifying investment opportunities and promoting long-term commercial partnerships.

She will also take part in a separate Business Roundtable with Canadian business leaders, exploring financial-sector cooperation and investment linkages between the two countries.

The Finance Minister will hold one-to-one meetings with CEOs and senior executives of Canadian companies to discuss India’s growth prospects and investment opportunities, and she will interact with the Indian diaspora in Toronto.

Sitharaman will then travel to the US, where she will participate in an Investor Roundtable with prominent investors and meet CEOs and senior private-sector representatives in Chicago.

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In Asheville, North Carolina, she will lead the Indian delegation at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, discussing global economic growth and stability, international financial cooperation and other major economic issues.

In New York, Sitharaman will participate in an Investor Roundtable with CEOs and senior representatives of leading companies, and she will participate in a bell-ringing ceremony at NASDAQ.

India and Canada are working to strengthen economic ties, with discussions covering energy, critical minerals, technology, innovation and resilient supply chains, alongside efforts towards a Full Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Sitharaman’s visit comes at a time when India is looking to attract investment and advance its position on global economic issues, with the nine-day visit combining bilateral economic diplomacy, investor outreach and multilateral engagement, and it is expected to play a key role in promoting investment opportunities and deepening business and investment partnerships between the countries.

They are aiming to strengthen their economic and financial ties with Canada and the US.

The visit will also provide an opportunity for Sitharaman to participate in a fireside conversation hosted by the Canadian Club of Toronto in partnership with the Canada-India Business Council, and to interact with the Indian diaspora in Chicago.