FM Nirmala Sitharaman pushes investment, economic ties with Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Jordan at AIIB meet

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman engaged in bilateral meetings at the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, aiming to bolster India's investment and economic ties with Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Jordan, and Nepal. The Ministry of Finance reported that Sitharaman welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the India-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty during her meeting with Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister, Mohammed Al-Jadaan.

The treaty is expected to create a more predictable and secure environment for bilateral investments, enhancing investor confidence.

Sitharaman also met Switzerland's AIIB Governor, Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri, who highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) as an attractive platform for foreign investors looking to diversify their portfolios with India's infrastructure sector. Switzerland's FDI growth in India is outpacing the global average, prompting the need to finalize the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement, according to the Ministry.

In discussions with Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Zeid Toukan, Sitharaman emphasized India's significance as Jordan's fourth-largest trading partner. The target is to increase bilateral trade to USD 5 billion by 2030. Toukan expressed Jordan's interest in continuing and strengthening cooperation across various sectors, including fertilizers, energy, water, and infrastructure projects, with a keen eye on investment opportunities in Jordan.

During her meeting with Nepal's Finance Minister, Swarnim Wagle, Sitharaman discussed Nepal's reconstruction and recovery priorities following floods. Both sides agreed to work on the specifics of potential Indian support and reviewed progress on previous agreements. The early operationalization of the UPI-NPI linkage was also highlighted as a mutually beneficial initiative.