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Informist, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be on an official visit to Canada and the US over the next few days, with a focus on strengthening bilateral economic and financial partnerships, deepening investment linkages, and advancing cooperation on shared global economic priorities.

 

During her visit to Toronto over three days starting Tuesday, Sitharaman will participate in the inaugural Economic and Financial Dialogue with her Canadian counterpart, Franois-Philippe Champagne. "The Dialogue will provide an important platform for both sides to exchange views on macroeconomic developments, financial sector cooperation, bilateral investment opportunities and shared international priorities, and to further strengthen the economic and financial pillar of the renewed India-Canada partnership," the finance ministry said in a release. 

 

The two countries have engaged in recent months on various opportunities, including energy, critical minerals, technology, and resilient supply chains, alongside efforts for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. India and Canada concluded the third round of negotiations for the agreement in Ottawa on Jul. 10. The negotiations started after the two sides signed the terms of reference in March 2025. India and Canada held virtual talks in March, followed by a second round that ended May 8.

 

India and Canada have bilateral trade of around $8.5 billion, and both governments have set a shared target of expanding it to $50 billion by 2030. India exported goods worth $4.67 billion to Canada in the financial year 2025-26 (Apr-Mar), with merchandise imports of $3.29 billion.

 

During her visit, Sitharaman will participate in an investment roundtable with leading businessmen from the energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals sectors. The interaction will seek to facilitate greater business-to-business linkages, identify investment opportunities, and promote long-term commercial partnerships between India and Canada, including opportunities in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre, the ministry said.

 

In a separate roundtable, she will engage with senior business leaders on long-term investment between the two countries and growth of the financial sector. Senior managing directors and chief executive officers of Indian public sector banks will also participate in the discussions, providing an opportunity to explore avenues for greater financial-sector collaboration and investment linkages. Sitharaman will also participate in a host of other meetings with Canadian ministers, officials, and businesses. 

 

In the second leg of her trip, Sitharaman will visit Chicago, Asheville, and New York for five days starting Friday. In Chicago, the finance minister will participate in a roundtable conference with prominent investors and engage with leading executives from the private sector. "The discussions will focus on India's investment opportunities, economic outlook, and areas for strengthening business and investment partnerships between India and the US," according to the release.

 

Sitharaman will lead the Indian delegation at the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Asheville under the US's G20 presidency. The meeting, scheduled for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, will bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, and senior economic officials from G20 members to deliberate on key global economic and financial issues. 

 

Finally, she will visit New York and participate in an investor roundtable with leading New York-based companies. "She will also hold one-to-one meetings with senior executives and CEOs from the financial sector to discuss investment opportunities, India's economic and financial landscape, and avenues for strengthening financial and institutional linkages between India and the US," the ministry said.

 

Nasdaq, a pioneering global electronic marketplace and one of the world's leading technology-driven financial market platforms, will also host Sitharaman in the bell-ringing ceremony in New York. "The visit will provide an opportunity to gain insights into developments in technology-driven financial markets and the evolving interface between technology and capital markets," the finance ministry said.  End

 

US$1 = INR 95.75

 

Reported by Priyasmita Dutta

Edited by Himanshi Gupta

 

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