The Union Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram left today for five day three nation tour of UK, France and Qatar. During the first leg of his foreign visit, the Finance Minister will arrive in London today evening. The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram who is leading the Indian delegation, will participate in the Sixth Ministerial India –UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) next day. Other members of Indian Delegation include Shri Shaktikanta Das, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Shri Anand Sinha, Deputy Governor, RBI, Shri Arvind Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance among others. The UK Delegation will be led by its Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr George Osborne. During the Ministerial India–UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, macro-economic issues, trade and investment related matters, infrastructure financing and financial services and regulations and insurance and pension sector issues will be discussed among others. The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will also have a discussion on current financial sector reforms by UK and India Regulatory Bodies. The UK delegation led by Mr Osborne will include Mr Charlie Bean, Deputy Governor, Bank of England, Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Mr Lord Paul Deighton, Commerce Secretary to the Treasury and Ms Shona Riach, Director, International, HM Treasury among others.

On the sidelines of EFD, a Bilateral Meeting between the Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram and his UK counterpart and Chancellor of Exchequer Mr George Osborne will also be held. During the meeting, both the leaders are likely to discuss about G-20 Clearing Committee on OTC derivatives, priority sector lending, Bangalore-Mumbai economic corridor and visa issues among others.

The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will also visit the Crossrail Tunnels along with the Chancellor Mr George Osborne.

Later the Finance Minister will hold one-to-one meeting with leading UK investors.

During the second lap of his foreign visit, the Finance Minister, Shri Chidambaram will arrive in Paris on 17th May, 2013. During his stay in Paris, the Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will also have a meeting with leading investors. He will also hold discussions with Secretary General, OECD Mr. Angel Gurria during his one day stay in Paris

In the last leg of his foreign visit, the Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will arrive in Doha, Qatar on 18th May, 2013. At Doha, the Finance Minister will hold discussions with Mr. Yousef Hussan Kamal, Minister of Economic and Finance, Qatar next day on 19th May, 2013. The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will also meet CEO of Qatar Investment Authority and CEO of Qatari Business Association among others. During his stay in Doha, the Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will also have a Investors Meet which will include CEOs of leading Qatar companies and banks, CEOs of Pension Funds and top investors before his departure for back home on 19th May, 2013.

The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will arrive in Delhi on the morning of 20th May, 2013.

DSM/RS/ka

(Release ID :95989)

Economic and Financial Dialogue advances bilateral investment cooperation, regulatory coordination and infrastructure financing through ministerial and investor meetings. The visit focuses on participation in the Economic and Financial Dialogue and bilateral meetings addressing macroeconomic coordination, trade and investment facilitation, infrastructure financing, financial services regulation, insurance and pension sector issues, and targeted discussions on OTC derivatives clearing, priority sector lending, an economic corridor project, visa facilitation, and investor engagement.