Union Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman and Canadian Minister of Finance and National Revenue H.E. Mr. François-Philippe Champagne to participate in inaugural Economic and Financial Dialogue between the two countries

FM Smt. Sitharaman will participate in Roundtable discussions with leading investors, businesses and financial sector representatives, besides one-on-one high-level interaction with private sector during the visit to Canada and USA

Union Finance Minister will lead the Indian delegation at G20 FMCBG meeting under the US G20 Presidency

Union Finance Minister will also interact with Indian communities based in Toronto and Chicago to strengthen people-to-people and economic linkages

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman will later undertake an official visit to Canada and the United States of America from 25^th August to 2^nd September 2026, 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, Canada, Smt. Sitharaman will participate in the inaugural Economic and Financial Dialogue with H.E. Mr. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue of Canada. 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.

Bilateral discussions in recent months have also focused on opportunities in areas including energy, critical minerals, technology, innovation and resilient supply chains, alongside ongoing efforts towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Smt. Sitharaman will participate in an Investment Roundtable with leading CEOs, Presidents and senior representatives, chief among them are 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 GIFT City-IFSC.

In another Business Roundtable, the Union Finance Minister will engage with senior business leaders on opportunities for Canada-India cooperation, long-term investment 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.

The Canadian Club of Toronto, in partnership with the Canada-India Business Council, will host a fireside conversation between Smt. Sitharaman and H.E. Mr. Champagne on advancing shared economic interests between the two countries. The discussion will cover the renewed Canada-India bilateral relationship, the investment climate, domestic economic priorities and the evolution and future trajectory of India-Canada economic and financial relations.

Smt. Sitharaman will also hold one-to-one meetings with CEOs and senior leadership of companies based in Canada, with discussions expected to focus on investment opportunities, India's growth prospects and avenues for expanding the presence of Canadian businesses in India.

The Union Finance Minister will also participate in an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Toronto, providing an opportunity to engage with the Indian community and acknowledge its important role in strengthening people-to-people and economic linkages between India and Canada.

During the United States leg of the visit, Smt. Sitharaman will travel to Chicago, Asheville and New York from 28^th August to 2^nd September 2026.

In Chicago, Smt. Sitharaman will participate in an Roundtable Conference with prominent investors and engage with leading CEOs, Presidents and senior representatives of the private sector. Bilateral one-to-one meetings with CEOs and senior leadership of select companies in Chicago will also be held. The discussions will focus on India's investment opportunities, economic outlook and areas for strengthening business and investment partnerships between India and the United States.

Smt. Sitharaman will also visit the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, where she will exchange perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation, technology commercialisation and strengthening linkages with India's rapidly expanding startup and innovation ecosystem.

The Union Finance Minister will also interact with members of the Indian community in Chicago during her visit.

In Asheville, North Carolina, Smt. Sitharaman will lead the Indian delegation at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting under the United States Presidency of the G20. The meeting, scheduled for 31^st August and 1^st September, will bring together Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and senior economic officials from G20 members to deliberate on key global economic and financial issues. The meeting follows the G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting scheduled for 29^th and 30^th August.

India's participation in the G20 Finance Track provides an important platform to contribute to discussions on global economic growth and stability, international financial cooperation and other issues of significance to emerging and advanced economies. The engagement will also provide an opportunity for India to advance its perspectives on contemporary global economic challenges and strengthen cooperation with G20 partners.

In New York, Smt. Sitharaman will participate in an Investor Roundtable with CEOs and senior representatives of 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 United States.

During her visit to New York, NASDAQ — a pioneering global electronic marketplace and one of the world's leading technology-driven financial market platforms — will host Smt. Sitharaman in the bell-ringing ceremony. 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.

****

SR/KMN