Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a series of bilateral discussions in Doha as part of her participation in the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Her meetings focused on strengthening India’s economic and investment relationships with Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Jordan, while discussions with Nepal covered reconstruction support and digital payments connectivity.
Sitharaman’s Qatar visit took place from September 27 to 29, 2026, and included the AIIB Board of Governors’ 11th Annual Meeting in Doha on September 28. She also met finance and other economic counterparts from several countries during the visit.
India-Saudi Arabia Investment Treaty
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).
The agreement is expected to provide a more predictable framework for investments between the two countries and support greater investor confidence. The Saudi side also expressed interest in attracting investments from India.
The development comes as both countries continue to explore opportunities for expanding their economic and investment relationship.
Switzerland Highlights Investment Opportunities in India
Sitharaman also met Switzerland’s AIIB Governor, Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri. During the discussion, she highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) as a platform through which international investors can gain exposure to India’s infrastructure sector.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Switzerland sees significant opportunities in India for investment and portfolio diversification. The Swiss side also sought support for the finalisation of the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement.
The discussions focused on expanding investment cooperation between India and Switzerland.
India and Jordan Target $5 Billion Trade by 2030
Sitharaman held another meeting with Jordan’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Zeid Toukan. The two sides discussed cooperation in food security, fertilisers, trade and investment.
Sitharaman noted that India is Jordan’s fourth-largest trading partner and highlighted the objective of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030. Jordan, meanwhile, expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with India in areas including fertilisers, energy, water and infrastructure, along with exploring additional investment opportunities.
Nepal Talks Focus on Reconstruction and UPI-NPI Linkage
In a separate meeting, Sitharaman held discussions with Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. The talks covered Nepal’s reconstruction and recovery priorities following the floods.
The two sides discussed continued engagement on the details of possible Indian support and reviewed progress on projects that had been discussed during their earlier meeting in New Delhi.
The early operationalisation and utilisation of the UPI-NPI linkage was also discussed, with the Ministry of Finance describing it as an initiative that could benefit both countries.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information released by the Ministry of Finance and other reported sources regarding Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s September 2026 visit to Qatar. Details of bilateral discussions and proposed areas of cooperation may evolve as governments continue their respective processes. Readers should refer to official government releases for subsequent updates.