India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed strong support for the U.S. G20 presidency’s focus on economic growth, global imbalances, and financial literacy during a recent meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
ASHEVILLE, NC – India has reaffirmed its commitment to the priorities set by the U.S. G20 presidency, particularly in areas of economic growth, global imbalances, and financial literacy. This declaration came from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following a “positive, constructive” bilateral meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
In an exclusive interview with IANS on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting, Sitharaman emphasized the shared interests between New Delhi and Washington on critical issues being addressed under the U.S. presidency.
“The U.S. presidency has spoken about growth as a priority. It has also highlighted global imbalances as a concern,” she noted. “Additionally, the U.S. has placed significant importance on financial literacy, which is a matter of personal significance for Secretary Bessent.”
She further stated, “In all these areas, we are very much aligned with the United States.”
Sitharaman expressed the need for G20 members to engage in open discussions regarding the challenges facing the international economy. “These are the points on which we also want fair, open discussions,” she said, underscoring the importance of addressing growth and global imbalances.
The Finance Minister welcomed the priorities identified by the U.S. and highlighted India’s active contributions to the ongoing discussions in Asheville. “I appreciate the U.S. presidency for taking up these points, and we’ve been contributing to the discussions that took place today,” she remarked.
Reflecting on her meeting with Secretary Bessent, Sitharaman described it as “very positive” and “constructive,” although she did not disclose specific details from their conversation.
In addition to her meeting with Bessent, Sitharaman engaged in separate bilateral discussions with representatives from Poland, Qatar, South Korea, and Russia during the G20 gathering. “I’ve had bilaterals with Poland, Qatar, Korea, and Russia, all of which occurred today and on a very positive note,” she stated.
“Everyone has had facts about India in their hands, and they’re looking forward to deepening their relationship with India,” she added, indicating a strong interest in fostering economic ties.
Sitharaman noted that some discussions would lead to further bilateral economic engagements, including a dialogue with South Korea later this year and another with Qatar. “There are quite a few activities that we’ve tied up for India and the bilateral engagement on economy and finance,” she said.
Her participation in the G20 meeting follows India’s reported economic growth of 7.8 percent in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. Sitharaman highlighted that manufacturing had grown by 9.2 percent, while the financial and professional services sector expanded by 12.1 percent.
She characterized these figures as evidence of India’s economic resilience amid ongoing global challenges, asserting that the government would strive to position India advantageously in the face of new challenges.
Sitharaman’s overseas visit began in Canada, where she held discussions with the Canadian Finance Minister. She then traveled to Chicago for talks with funding agencies before arriving in Asheville for the G20 meeting.
Following her engagements in Asheville, Sitharaman is scheduled to travel to New York, where she will meet with investors interested in entering the Indian market, according to IANS.