Sitharaman pushes investment ties with Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Jordan at AIIB meet
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha, seeking to deepen India's investment and economic ties with Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Jordan. The meetings also included discussions on post-flood reconstruction support and digital payments connectivity with Nepal.
During her meeting with Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Sitharaman welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the India-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which is expected to provide a stronger and more predictable framework for bilateral investments and bolster investor confidence. Al-Jadaan expressed keen interest in welcoming investments from India. In a separate meeting with Switzerland's AIIB Governor, Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri, Sitharaman highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) as a platform for foreign investors seeking exposure to India's infrastructure sector. Lazzeri noted that Swiss Foreign Direct Investment growth in India is outpacing global FDI and sought support for finalisation of the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement.
Sitharaman also met Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Zeid Toukan, with discussions focusing on food security, fertilisers, trade and investment. India is Jordan's fourth-largest trading partner, with a target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion by 2030. Separately, Sitharaman held a meeting with Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, where discussions focused on Nepal's reconstruction and recovery priorities following the floods.
