Nirmala Sitharaman's Upcoming Diplomatic Mission: What to Expect from Her UK and Austria Visit
Official Visit to the UK and Austria
New Delhi: Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, is set to travel to the United Kingdom and Austria from April 8 to 13. This visit will include participation in high-level bilateral discussions, as announced in an official statement on Monday.
During her trip, the Finance Minister will take part in the 13th Ministerial round of the India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, engaging with think tanks, investors, and business leaders in both nations, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The 13th EFD is scheduled for April 9 in London, where it will be co-chaired by Sitharaman and the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The ministry highlighted that the 13th EFD serves as a vital platform for bilateral discussions, allowing for open dialogue at various levels, including ministerial and regulatory bodies, focusing on financial collaboration aspects such as investments, financial services, regulations, UPI interlinkages, taxation, and combating illicit financial flows.
Key areas of focus will include collaboration in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City, investment opportunities, insurance, pensions, FinTech, the digital economy, and sustainable climate finance.
On the sidelines of the EFD, Sitharaman will hold bilateral discussions with prominent dignitaries and participate in investor roundtables with leaders from major financial institutions and corporations.
She is also expected to deliver a keynote address at the India-UK Investor Roundtable, attended by CEOs from international organizations and key figures from the UK financial sector, including pension funds and banks.
Sitharaman will co-host this roundtable with Jonathan Reynolds, the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in collaboration with the City of London, featuring top executives from leading pension funds and asset management firms.
In Austria, the Finance Minister will meet with senior officials, including Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and Chancellor Christian Stocker, to discuss investment opportunities.
Additionally, she will co-chair a session with Austrian Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, to inform key Austrian CEOs about current and future investment prospects in India.