Neither U.S. nor China can ignore India today: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasizes India's growing influence globally, highlighting the country's economic growth and technological advancements.

India’s priority is not to impose its dominance but to enhance its influence, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said, asserting that no country, whether the U.S. or China, can ignore New Delhi today.

Ms. Sitharaman made the remarks on Wednesday (October 23, 2024) during a panel discussion on “Bretton Woods at 80: Priorities for the Next Decade” organised by the Center for Global Development in Washington.

The Minister arrived in Washington on Tuesday to attend the annual meetings of the Bretton Woods Institutions — the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"India's priority is not to impose its dominance, in the sense we are the biggest democracy we have in the world, the largest population, but to enhance its influence," she said.

Asserting that one in every six people in the world is an Indian, she said, "You just cannot ignore our economy and the way in which it is growing.”

Ms. Sitharaman underscored that the course developed countries took, from producing textiles, cycles, bikes, etc, and reaching development, is "no longer available".

Questioning if India was in a position to define that path, she talked about the country's leading role in technology and how Indians have the system to run complex corporate set-ups.