Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to begin her official visit to the United Kingdom and Austria from 8th to 13th April.
The India-UK Economic & Financial Dialogue, scheduled for April 9 in London, will be co-chaired by Sitharaman and the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, providing a crucial platform for high-level discussions on various financial collaboration matters between the two countries.
Key topics for discussion will include investment opportunities, financial services, taxation, illicit financial flows, and the potential interlinking of India’s UPI system with the UK’s payment systems. The dialogue will also focus on India’s priorities, including enhancing cooperation in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City, expanding the insurance and pension sectors, advancing the digital economy, and securing sustainable climate finance.
In addition to the EFD, Sitharaman will hold several bilateral meetings with top dignitaries, investors, and business leaders. She will also participate in an investor roundtable with CEOs and senior representatives from major financial institutions in the UK.
Sitharaman is expected to deliver the keynote address at the India-UK Investor Roundtable, an event that will bring together leading executives from sectors such as pension funds, insurance, banks, and financial services. The roundtable, co-hosted with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, and in partnership with the City of London, aims to foster stronger economic ties between India and the UK, providing an important platform for investment collaboration.
After her engagements in the UK, Sitharaman will head to Austria for further high-level discussions. She is scheduled to meet with senior Austrian government officials, including Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.
Additionally, Sitharaman will co-chair a session with Austrian Minister for Economy, Energy, and Tourism, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, where they will engage with prominent Austrian CEOs. The session will focus on exploring deeper investment collaboration between India and Austria, especially in sectors offering significant opportunities for mutual growth.