New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) With a focus on strengthening bilateral economic and financial partnerships, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will embark on an official visit to Canada and the United States from August 25 to September 2, an official statement said on Monday. The visit focuses on strengthening bilateral economic and financial partnerships, deepening investment linkages and advancing cooperation on shared global economic priorities.In Toronto, Sitharaman will participate in the inaugural Economic and Financial Dialogue with Canada's Minister of Finance and National Revenue, Francois-Philippe Champagne.According to the official statement, the event 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.

Later, FM Sitharaman will participate in an ‘Investment Roundtable’ with leading CEOs, Presidents and senior representatives, chiefly 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, said the Finance Ministry in a statement.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.During the US leg of the visit, Sitharaman will travel to Chicago, Asheville (North Carolina), and New York. In Chicago, she will participate in a ‘Roundtable Conference’ with prominent investors and engage with leading CEOs, Presidents and senior representatives of the private sector.

According to an official statement, the discussions will focus on India's investment opportunities, economic outlook and areas for strengthening business and investment partnerships between India and the US. Moreover, she will also visit the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago.In Asheville, 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.In New York, she will participate in an ‘Investor Roundtable’ with CEOs and senior representatives of leading New York-based companies. NASDAQ will host 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, said the Finance Ministry.

/IANS