FM Nirmala Sitharaman Holds Key Bilateral Meetings in Spain to Boost Global Partnerships
Seville (Spain), July 1:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held several important bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the International Business Forum Leadership Summit in Seville, Spain. She discussed cooperation in defence, education, technology, agriculture, and other areas.

She met Dr. Shane Reti, New Zealand’s Minister of Science and Technology, and both spoke about collaboration in education, innovation, and defence. Sitharaman highlighted the growing opportunities at GIFT-IFSC in India and emphasized the role of Indian students in New Zealand. Dr. Reti supported stronger educational ties and shared New Zealand’s approach to Pacific Island engagement. Both leaders agreed to work together through the Pacific Islands Forum.

Sitharaman also met Peru’s Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo and discussed partnerships in FinTech, mining, defence, trade, and railway infrastructure. She emphasized India’s strength in building rail links and shared India’s interest in exporting automobiles, medicines, textiles, and more. She also valued Peru’s copper and lithium exports, which support India’s green energy goals.

In another meeting, she spoke with Germany’s Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan. They discussed areas under the India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership, such as renewable energy, eco-friendly urban transport, and sustainable jobs. The German minister expressed a strong interest in deepening cooperation with India.