From World Bank to WTO head, PM Modi engages multilateral agencies at G-20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meetings are not confined only to the heads of the states. The Prime Minister has been actively holding meetings with chiefs and senior executives of multilateral agencies on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali. Modi tweeted about his meetings with World Bank President David Malpass, International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgrieva and Gita Gopinath, the Deputy MD of the multilateral agency. He also met World Trade Organisation’s Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Modi said India is committed to doing everything possible to build a healthier planet. He also highlighted the progress made by India as it marks 75 years of “freedom from colonial rule.”

“While the meetings seem more customary in nature, they actually also reflect India’s growing influence in the global order,” an observer said. “The meetings are also important as India will assume the presidency of G20 in less than a month and economic agenda will dominate the discourses,” he added.

“Excellent exchange with Prime Minister @narendramodi. All eyes on India’s G20 Presidency,” Gopinath tweeted.

Meanwhile, recently, US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen, who was on a four day visit to India said that with concerns on the supply chain, India and the US should work together. She also said that the two countries share a common interest in strengthening the supply chains in a world “where certain governments wield trade as a geopolitical weapon.”

Also read: PM Modi plants sapling in Bali as India joins Mangrove Alliance to counter climate change