Chidambaram to begin week long tour to Canada, US tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister P Chidambaram is embarking on a week long visit to Canada and the US tomorrow to sell India's growth story to foreign investors and participate in the World Bank/IMF spring meetings in Washington.

During his tour, he is expected to talk about the recent steps taken by the government to speed up large projects and measures to bring down fiscal deficit.

With India facing high Current Account Deficit (CAD), Chidambaram has been touring major global financial hubs like Japan, Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore, to project the country as a investment destination.

As per an official statement, in the first leg of his journey, Chidambaram will address the Canadian-Indian Business Council in Toronto on Monday and hold a Round Table Meeting with Canadian Council of Chief Executives in which about 15-20 CEOs of major Canadian companies are likely to participate.

He will also meet his Canadian counterpart James Flaherty in Ottawa and Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney.

On April 16 in Boston, the Finance Minister will deliver an address on the theme "Rise of the East: Implications for the Global Economy" at Harvard University.

"He will also engage in open discussion with audience beside interacting with faculty and students of Harvard University," the statement said.

Thereafter, Chidambaram will address leading sovereign wealth funds, provident funds, University Endowments and insurance funds, among others, in Boston and New York.

He will hold India road shows in Toronto, Ottawa, Boston and New York during his visits.