FM Sitharaman flags 20+ investment sectors for Canadian businesses, highlights tax certainty and India reforms
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged Canadian businesses to expand their presence in India, highlighting greater tax certainty, an investor-friendly policy framework and ongoing reforms as opportunities open up across more than 20 sectors, including critical minerals, artificial intelligence, clean technology and infrastructure.
Addressing a high-level business roundtable in Toronto with CEOs, presidents and senior executives, Sitharaman pitched India as a market for long-term partnerships spanning emerging technologies, manufacturing and financial services. The roundtable brought together representatives from clean technology, rare earths, energy storage, automotive, aerospace, space, cybersecurity, biotechnology, AI, agriculture and food processing, among other sectors.
Pension funds seek deeper infrastructure exposure
The Finance Minister separately met senior executives of Canada's major pension funds, seeking to expand their already significant engagement with Indian infrastructure. With Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), she discussed partnerships and co-investments in transmission, transport, urban infrastructure and renewable energy, while highlighting GIFT-IFSC as a platform for global investors.
Sitharaman also urged OMERS to broaden its India presence beyond its existing infrastructure and real estate investments, with discussions covering transportation, transmission, renewable energy, logistics and urban infrastructure. "The meeting also explored opportunities to strengthen OMERS' presence in India and broaden its engagement beyond its existing infrastructure and real estate investments," the Finance Ministry said.
CPPIB eyes roads, ports and digital infrastructure
With Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Sitharaman discussed expanding institutional capital across roads, ports, transmission, renewable energy, urban infrastructure, digital infrastructure and data centres.
She also pointed to India's growing infrastructure monetisation pipeline and efforts to strengthen investor protection, regulatory predictability and transparency. New opportunities through GIFT IFSC in private credit and international financial services were also discussed.
Tax certainty, GIFT IFSC drive investment pitch
The minister's outreach comes as India seeks to deepen investment ties with Canada across traditional and emerging sectors. She encouraged Canadian companies to explore opportunities across sectors and geographies, while emphasising the policy environment and reforms aimed at improving investor confidence.
At the roundtable, the breadth of sectors represented underscored the potential for investment beyond conventional areas. "The roundtable brought together business leaders from clean technology, critical minerals, rare earths, energy storage, sustainable infrastructure, agriculture, food processing, automotive, textiles, green steel, aerospace, space, cybersecurity, biotechnology, AI, asset management, higher education and skills development," the Finance Ministry said.
The latest outreach builds on Sitharaman's meetings with Canadian financial institutions, including Sun Life Financial and Canaccord Genuity, as India seeks to attract long-term foreign capital into insurance, infrastructure, technology and other growth sectors.