The Finance Minister welcomed the priorities outlined by Washington and said India was actively contributing to discussions at the meeting…reports Asian Lite News
India has backed the priorities of the US presidency of the G20, including economic growth, global imbalances and financial literacy, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, following bilateral talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Speaking exclusively to IANS on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in Asheville, Sitharaman said India and the United States shared common ground on key issues being discussed under the US presidency.
“The US presidency has spoken about growth as a priority. It has spoken about the global imbalances as a concern,” she said.
“The US has also very clearly placed high importance on financial literacy, which is a very personally dear point for the Secretary of Treasury, Scott Bessent,” the Finance Minister said.
“So in all these, we are very much with the United States,” she added.
Sitharaman said India wanted G20 members to engage in candid discussions on challenges facing the international economy, including the need to address imbalances.
“These are the points on which we also want fair, open discussions,” she said.
“Growth is a central point for the G20’s financial track. Equally, the imbalances, global imbalances will have to be sorted out,” she said.
The Finance Minister welcomed the priorities outlined by Washington and said India was actively contributing to discussions at the meeting.
“I appreciate the US presidency in taking up these points, and we’ve been contributing in the discussions which happened today,” she said.
Sitharaman also held bilateral talks with Bessent during the day, covering economic and financial issues. She described the meeting positively but did not provide details of the discussions.
“I may also add here that I’ve had a very positive, constructive bilateral discussion with Secretary Bessent today,” she said.
The meeting comes as India and the US continue to engage on economic and financial issues within the G20 framework. Sitharaman’s remarks indicated broad alignment between the two countries on placing economic growth at the centre of the G20 financial track while addressing global economic imbalances.
The Finance Minister also held separate bilateral meetings with representatives from Poland, Qatar, South Korea and Russia.
“I’ve had bilaterals also with Poland, with Qatar, with Korea, with Russia. All of them happened today, and on a very positive note,” she said.
“Everyone has had facts about India in their hands, and they’re looking forward to deepening their relationship with India,” she added.
Sitharaman said some of the discussions would lead to further bilateral economic engagements. She said a dialogue with South Korea would take place later this year, while a dialogue with Qatar would also be held during the year.
“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 comes after India reported economic growth of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. Sitharaman said manufacturing grew by 9.2 per cent, while the financial and professional services sector expanded by 12.1 per cent.
She described the figures as evidence of India’s economic resilience despite continuing global challenges and said the government would seek to position the country advantageously as new challenges emerged.
Sitharaman began her overseas visit in Canada, where she held talks with the Canadian Finance Minister. She subsequently travelled to Chicago for discussions with funding agencies before arriving in Asheville for the G20 meeting.
After completing her engagements in Asheville, she is scheduled to travel to New York, where she will meet investors interested in entering the Indian market.
