Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday held a series of high-level meetings with key representatives from the financial, payments, commodity markets and defence sectors, reflecting the government's continued engagement with stakeholders across critical segments of the economy and national institutions.
Neelkanth Mishra, Executive Director at the World Bank, called on the Finance Minister to discuss issues of mutual interest, the finance minister said on social media platform X. The meeting comes at a time when India continues to engage closely with multilateral institutions on economic growth, development financing and global economic challenges.
In another meeting, Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), met the Finance Minister. The interaction is seen as significant given India's rapid expansion in digital payments and the growing global recognition of the country's payment infrastructure.
The Finance Minister also met a delegation from the Commodity & Capital Market Participants Association of India (CPAI). The discussions are understood to have focused on issues concerning commodity and capital markets and the broader financial ecosystem.
Separately, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, called on FM Sitharaman. The meeting highlighted the continued coordination between the finance and defence establishments on matters concerning national priorities.
Meanwhile, last week, the finance minister inaugurated the Jowai-Nartiang-Kdiap-Khanduli (JNKK) Road in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district and interacted with students, sportspersons and local residents, highlighting the Centre's commitment to strengthening infrastructure and creating opportunities for youth in the Northeast.
According to the official statement, the road project, built with funding support from the New Development Bank at an estimated cost of more than Rs 59 crore, was inaugurated at a function held at the Wahiajer Football Stadium.