Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, met with Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister, Khalid Al Falih, in New Delhi. The summit aimed to accelerate economic cooperation and improve existing ties between the two countries. Both leaders discussed the status of the Bilateral Investment Treaty, which has been in negotiations for some time. They agreed that completing the pact as soon as possible would assist in improving two-way investment flows and create greater opportunities for long-term collaboration.

The Ministry of Finance revealed the specifics of the discussions in a post on X. According to the ministry, the leaders underlined how the treaty might help accelerate foreign direct investment and promote economic cooperation across many sectors. Their conversation showed the two countries’ growing interest in developing a more solid investment framework.

Earlier in the day, Sitharaman presided over the third pre-budget consultation with representatives from the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises sector. The conference was part of the ongoing preparations for the Union Budget for 2026–27. Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Finance, was also in attendance, as were senior officials from major economic departments. Stakeholders discussed issues affecting MSMEs and developed ideas for improving competitiveness and growth.