Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has started her 11-day official visit to the United States and Peru. The Finance Ministry confirmed this in a statement released on Saturday.
Major Events in Washington, D.C.
During her visit to Washington, D.C., Sitharaman will attend several important meetings. She will join the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
She will also participate in the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting, the Development Committee Plenary, the IMFC Plenary, and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR).
Moreover, she will hold bilateral meetings with finance ministers from Argentina, Bahrain, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. She will also meet with the EU Commissioner for Financial Services.
In addition, she will hold talks with the Presidents of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). She is also expected to meet the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF.
Key Engagements in San Francisco
Before reaching Washington, Sitharaman will visit San Francisco. There, she will meet top executives from leading global fund management firms. She will also hold bilateral meetings with CEOs of major IT companies.
On April 20, she will deliver a keynote address at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Besides this, she will attend an event hosted by the Indian diaspora and will interact with the Indian community based in the city.
First-Ever Visit to Peru
After completing her U.S. engagements, Sitharaman will travel to Peru from April 26 to April 30. This will be her first official visit to the country. She will lead a high-level Indian delegation that includes finance ministry officials and business leaders. Her visit will begin in Lima, where she is expected to meet President Dina Boluarte and Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén. She will also hold bilateral talks with Peru’s Ministers of Finance and Economy, Defence, and Energy and Mines. Additionally, she will engage with local public representatives to boost cooperation.
Strengthening Trade and Mining Ties
Sitharaman will chair the India-Peru Business Forum. This meeting will bring together top business representatives from both countries. The forum aims to promote stronger economic and trade relations.
Since Peru plays a vital role in the global supply of critical minerals and precious metals, both sides will discuss mining sector partnerships. These talks may help secure resources for India and develop value-chain linkages between the two economies.
Interaction with Indian Community in Lima
Finally, Sitharaman will take part in a community event in Lima. There, she will interact with members of the Indian diaspora living in Peru, the Finance Ministry added.