Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 September declared India's strong support for the US G20 presidency's priorities — economic growth, addressing global imbalances, and financial literacy — after holding a 'positive, constructive' bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting in Asheville.

India and the US: Common Ground at G20

Speaking exclusively on the sidelines of the Asheville gathering, Sitharaman said New Delhi and Washington shared common ground on the central issues being debated under the US presidency. 'The US presidency has spoken about growth as a priority. It has spoken about the global imbalances as a concern,' she said.

She added that Washington had also placed significant emphasis on financial literacy — a cause she described as personally important to Secretary Bessent. 'So in all these, we are very much with the United States,' Sitharaman said.

Call for Open Discussions on Global Imbalances

The Finance Minister stressed that India wanted G20 members to engage in candid, open dialogue about challenges confronting the international economy. 'Growth is a central point for the G20's financial track. Equally, the imbalances, global imbalances will have to be sorted out,' she said.

Sitharaman welcomed the US presidency's agenda and confirmed that India had been an active participant in the day's deliberations. She did not disclose specific details of her bilateral with Bessent, but her remarks pointed to broad convergence between the two nations on placing growth at the heart of the G20 financial track.

A Busy Day of Bilateral Engagements

Beyond her meeting with Bessent, Sitharaman held separate bilateral discussions with representatives of Poland, Qatar, South Korea, and Russia on the same day. 'All of them happened today, and on a very positive note,' she said, adding that counterparts had expressed strong interest in deepening economic ties with India.

Follow-up bilateral economic dialogues are planned with South Korea and Qatar later this year, she confirmed. 'There are quite a few activities that we've tied up for India and the bilateral engagement on economy and finance,' Sitharaman said.

India's Economic Numbers in the Room

Sitharaman's Asheville appearance came as India reported GDP growth of 7.8% in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. She cited manufacturing growth of 9.2% and expansion in financial and professional services of 12.1% as evidence of India's resilience amid continuing global headwinds.

The Finance Minister described these figures as giving India a strong hand in multilateral discussions, noting that counterparts had 'facts about India in their hands' and were eager to deepen ties.

What Comes Next

After Asheville, Sitharaman is scheduled to travel to New York to meet investors eyeing the Indian market — the final leg of an overseas visit that began in Canada and included stops in Chicago for discussions with funding agencies. The bilateral follow-ups with South Korea and Qatar, expected later this year, will be closely watched for tangible economic outcomes.