FM Nirmala Sitharaman Embarks on Official Visit to Spain, Portugal & Brazil

Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has set forth on an official visit to Spain, Portugal, and Brazil from 30 June to 5 July 2025, marking a new phase in deepening economic engagement between India and key global regions. This visit underscores India’s resolve to expand its financial and corporate links across the EU, UK, and Latin America, and offers important new opportunities for business leaders in the India‑EU/UK corridor.

Beginning in Seville, Spain, Smt. Sitharaman will represent India at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) organised by the United Nations. She is scheduled to deliver an official statement on behalf of India, and will provide a keynote address at the International Business Forum Leadership Summit, themed: “From FFD4 Outcome to Implementation: Unlocking the Potential of Private Capital for Sustainable Development”. On the sidelines, she will interact with ministers from Germany, Peru, and New Zealand, along with the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). These interactions pave the way for deeper collaboration on funding sustainable infrastructure and green finance, offering European investors entry points into India’s fast-growing market.

Her next stop, Lisbon, Portugal, will feature a high-level bilateral meeting with Portugal’s Finance Minister, and extensive discussions with private investors and the Indian diaspora. This engagement seeks to spotlight new investment avenues in sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and innovation-driven SMEs.

The final leg in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will see Smt. Sitharaman addressing the 10th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) as India’s Governor, participating in its flagship seminar titled “Building a Premier Multilateral Development Bank for the Global South”. She will also attend the first BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, and hold bilateral talks with finance counterparts from Brazil, China, Indonesia, and Russia.

This concentrated outreach has immense relevance for business professionals operating in the India‑EU/UK corridor. First, the mission aims to unlock private capital for development, positioning India as a partner of choice for sustainable investment. Second, by engaging multilateral institutions such as the EIB and NDB, the visit is expected to mobilize new funding frameworks, especially in green energy and infrastructure. Third, the bilateral talks in Lisbon and Rio provide direct platforms for investor confidence-building, potentially enabling smoother market access, streamlined trade facilitation, and strengthened fintech and financial services cooperation.

While no public statement has yet been released by the Minister during her mission, her addresses are expected to highlight India’s fiscal strength, structural reforms, and sustained growth momentum. With India projected to grow at around 6.5% in FY26, robust domestic demand and policy stability make it an attractive destination for global capital. This trip will enhance that appeal, enabling corridor investors to more confidently allocate resources to India and jointly tap opportunities in Europe and Latin America.

For businesses in the India‑EU/UK corridor, this mission signals several key developments. European companies can look forward to greater clarity on India’s financial frameworks and bilateral investment treaties, potentially easing entry into its vast consumer and infrastructure segments. The engagement with Portuguese and Brazilian counterparts may bring new bilateral MoUs or hybrid public–private partnerships, especially in renewable energy, digital payments, and climate-aligned finance. Moreover, India’s leadership in the NDB and BRICS forum could stimulate co-financed projects benefiting corridor-based firms specializing in sustainable construction, ESG consulting, and green technology.