Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held bilateral meetings with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Jordan and Nepal on the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s annual meeting in Doha. The discussions covered investment agreements, infrastructure opportunities, trade, financial services and Nepal’s recovery needs after flooding. The Finance Ministry had listed the bilateral meetings as part of her September 27–29 visit to Qatar.
In talks with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Sitharaman welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on an India–Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty. According to the Finance Ministry account cited by PTI, both ministers said the treaty would offer a more predictable framework for investment. Al-Jadaan expressed interest in its early implementation and in receiving more investment from India.
Sitharaman described Saudi Arabia as a valued strategic partner and discussed the breadth of the relationship, including trade, energy, technology, security, healthcare and education. The investment treaty was a central point of the meeting, but its implementation remains a next step rather than an outcome already completed.
Swiss talks focus on infrastructure and financial services
Sitharaman also met Switzerland’s AIIB Governor, Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri. She invited Swiss investors to consider opportunities through India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, or NIIF, particularly its infrastructure funds. Lazzeri said Switzerland saw potential in India for investment and portfolio diversification, according to the PTI report.
The two sides discussed progress toward a Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement. Lazzeri sought support for its finalisation and expressed interest in cooperation on sustainable finance. Sitharaman also highlighted GIFT IFSC as a destination for Swiss financial services firms looking to operate in India.
These conversations centred on future opportunities. The meetings did not amount to an announcement of new investment commitments or a completed India–Switzerland protection agreement.
Nepal recovery and Jordan trade target
In her meeting with Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, Sitharaman discussed Nepal’s assessment of damage and its priorities for reconstruction after flooding. The two sides agreed on the need for their teams to continue working through the specifics of any support India could provide. They also discussed early use of the UPI–NPI payments linkage, which is intended to make transactions between the neighbouring countries easier.
Sitharaman separately met Jordan’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Zeid Toukan. Their talks addressed broader bilateral cooperation, with Sitharaman highlighting a target of raising India–Jordan trade to $5 billion by 2030. The meeting formed part of her wider effort in Doha to strengthen economic ties alongside the AIIB gathering.
