Nirmala Sitharaman’s 9-day Canada-US visit: Trade, investment, G20 in focus
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will undertake a nine-day tour of Canada and the United States from August 25 to September 2, combining trade talks, investor outreach and G20 diplomacy to deepen economic partnerships and strengthen investment linkages. The itinerary spans Toronto, Chicago, Asheville and New York, blending bilateral economic engagement with participation in the G20 Finance Track.
Canada leg: deepening bilateral ties
In Toronto, Sitharaman will take part in the inaugural India–Canada Economic and Financial Dialogue alongside Canadian minister François-Philippe Champagne. Discussions are expected to cover macroeconomic trends, financial-sector cooperation, bilateral investment and shared international priorities.
The visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa look to expand cooperation across energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, technology and resilient supply chains. Both sides are also pursuing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), keeping trade negotiations central to the agenda.
Sitharaman’s Canada schedule includes an investment roundtable with leaders from energy, AI and critical-minerals sectors, as well as meetings with CEOs and business leaders to highlight India’s growth outlook and new avenues for Canadian investment. Engagements with Indian public-sector bank executives will explore financial collaboration and opportunities linked to GIFT City–IFSC.
There is significant headroom for growth in the economic relationship. India–Canada trade reached $8.66 billion in 2025, up from $8.4 billion a year earlier. The push for a broader trade agreement is paired with efforts to deepen investment and diversify areas of cooperation.
United States: capital, innovation and partnerships
The US leg begins August 28, with stops in Chicago, Asheville and New York. In Chicago, Sitharaman will meet investors and senior private-sector representatives to discuss India’s economic outlook, investment opportunities and pathways to stronger business partnerships.
She will also visit the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for discussions on entrepreneurship, technology commercialisation and building connections between India’s startup ecosystem and global innovation networks.
G20 finance track in Asheville
A major component of the tour is participation in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 31 and September 1. Leading India’s delegation under the US G20 presidency, Sitharaman will join discussions on global growth, financial stability and international economic cooperation.
New York: markets and investor outreach
The final stop is New York, where Sitharaman will hold investor meetings and engage with financial-sector executives. She is also scheduled to take part in a Nasdaq bell-ringing ceremony, underscoring the growing intersection of technology, capital markets and India’s investment narrative.
Strategic outcomes in focus
Taken together, the nine-day Canada–US visit reflects a broad economic strategy: deepen trade ties, attract capital, build partnerships in strategic sectors and amplify India’s voice in global economic policymaking. By combining structured bilateral dialogues, targeted investor engagement and active participation in the G20 Finance Track, the tour aims to expand market access, mobilise long-term investment and advance collaboration in areas critical to sustainable, resilient growth.
