Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that India strongly supports the United States G20 presidency’s core focus areas, including economic growth, addressing global imbalances, and promoting financial literacy. Speaking in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting, Sitharaman highlighted that New Delhi and Washington share common ground on these critical international economic issues, noting that the U.S. presidency’s emphasis on financial literacy aligns closely with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s personal priorities.
Bilateral Engagements and Strong Growth Figures:
Reflecting on her discussions, Sitharaman described her bilateral meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as “positive and constructive.” In addition to her talks with the U.S., she held productive bilateral meetings with representatives from Poland, Qatar, South Korea, and Russia, noting that international partners are keen to deepen economic and financial ties with India, with follow-up dialogues with South Korea and Qatar planned later in the year.
Sitharaman’s participation in the summit follows the release of India’s robust economic data for the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, which recorded an impressive overall growth rate of 7.8 percent. Highlighting stellar performances in manufacturing (9.2 percent growth) and the financial and professional services sector (12.1 percent growth), she pointed to these figures as clear evidence of India’s economic resilience amidst ongoing global challenges. Prior to her arrival in Asheville for the G20 gathering, Sitharaman undertook an overseas itinerary that included meetings with Canada’s finance minister and discussions with funding agencies in Chicago, concluding her tour with investor meetings in New York.
