(Press Information Bureau)
New Delhi

The Union Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram will be leaving tomorrow on one week tour to USA. During the first leg of his visit, the Finance Minister will arrive in Washington D.C. on 9th October, 2013. In Washington, the Finance Minister will attend Annual Plenary Meetings of IMF and World Bank on 11th and 12th October, 2013. Besides it, the Finance Minister will also participate in BRICS Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ meeting, G-24 Ministerial Meeting and G-20 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting during his stay in Washington DC from 9th to 12th October, 2013. In G-20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting, recent developments in global economy and financial sector vulnerabilities, IFA reforms, financing for investment and strengthening of G-20 process are likely to be discussed among others.

The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will participate in Plenary Meeting of IMF and Development Committee Meeting of the World Bank. He is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with Mr. Hiroshi Watanabe, CEO of Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), Mr. Joe Hockey, New Australian Treasurer, Mr. Yair Lapid, Finance Minister of Israel and Mr. John Osborne, Chancellor of UK Exchequer among others on the sidelines of IMF/World Bank Meetings. The Finance Minister will also participate and interact in a function at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Finance Minister is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Switzerland and New Zealand during his stay in Washington DC. The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will be the Chief Guest at the IDFC event organized to mark the First Closing of IDFC’s Infrastructure Fund Meeting. He will also participate in an Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL).

The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram will also attend the Indo-US Economic and Financial Partnership Dialogue before departing for San Francisco on 13th October, 2013 during the second leg of his visit. During his stay in San Francisco, the Finance Minister will interact with the investors and highlight India as a highly attractive destination for investment. The Finance Minister will return home on 16th October, 2013.