Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to visit Canada, US for economic, investment talks

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Canada and the United States from August 25 to September 2, with bilateral economic cooperation, investment opportunities and global financial issues on the agenda.

The nine-day visit will begin in Toronto, where Sitharaman will participate in the inaugural Economic and Financial Dialogue with Canadian Finance and National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne. The dialogue will cover macroeconomic developments, financial-sector cooperation, bilateral investment opportunities and shared international priorities.

The Finance Ministry said the visit will focus on “strengthening bilateral economic and financial partnerships, deepening investment linkages and advancing cooperation on shared global economic priorities.”

Canada talks to focus on investment

During her Canada visit, Sitharaman will participate in an investment roundtable with leading CEOs and senior representatives, particularly from the energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals sectors.

The discussions will seek to identify investment opportunities and promote long-term commercial partnerships between India and Canada, including opportunities linked to GIFT City-IFSC.

She will also participate in a business roundtable with senior Canadian business leaders and engage with senior executives of Canadian companies in one-on-one meetings. The discussions are expected to cover India's investment prospects and avenues for expanding Canadian businesses' presence in India.

Recent India-Canada discussions have focused on energy, critical minerals, technology, innovation and resilient supply chains, alongside efforts towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

G20 meeting on US agenda

Sitharaman will travel to Chicago, Asheville and New York during the US leg of the trip from August 28 to September 2. In Chicago, she will meet investors and private-sector leaders and visit the University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

In Asheville, North Carolina, she will lead India's delegation at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting on August 31 and September 1 under the US G20 presidency. The meeting will focus on global economic growth, financial stability and international financial cooperation.

The final leg in New York will include an investor roundtable and meetings with financial-sector executives. Sitharaman will also participate in a bell-ringing ceremony at Nasdaq, with the visit expected to provide an opportunity to engage on developments in technology-driven financial markets.

The visit comes as India seeks to deepen economic and investment linkages with both Canada and the US while advancing its priorities in the G20 Finance Track.