Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman embarked on an official six-day visit to Spain, Portugal, and Brazil on Monday.
Leading a delegation from the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Sitharaman is set to participate in a series of high-level multilateral and bilateral engagements during the visit, which runs from June 30 to July 5, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.
During her visit to Seville, Spain, the Finance Minister will represent India at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), organised by the United Nations. She is scheduled to deliver India’s national statement at the conference, reaffirming India’s commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
In addition, Sitharaman will deliver the keynote address at the International Business Forum Leadership Summit, themed “From FFD4 Outcome to Implementation: Unlocking the Potential of Private Capital for Sustainable Development.” Her engagements in Spain will also include bilateral meetings with senior ministers from Germany, Peru, and New Zealand, as well as discussions with the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Following her engagements in Spain, the Finance Minister will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, where she is expected to meet with her Portuguese counterpart for bilateral discussions. She will also engage with prominent investors and members of the Indian diaspora to deepen economic and cultural ties between India and Portugal.
The final leg of her visit will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There, Sitharaman will represent India at the 10th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB), where she serves as India’s Governor. She will also attend the first BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (FMCBG), reinforcing India’s active role in shaping the economic agenda of the BRICS bloc.
As part of the NDB’s flagship event, the Finance Minister will speak at the Governors Seminar on “Building a Premier Multilateral Development Bank for the Global South,” highlighting India’s vision for inclusive financial institutions. She is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines with her counterparts from Brazil, China, Indonesia, and Russia, focusing on key areas of mutual economic interest and multilateral cooperation.
