India to focus on global financial issues at IMF meet

Issues related to global economy and international financial architecture are expected to be the focus of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his 4-day visit in Washington starting on Wednesday to attend the annual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Mukherjee has a hectic schedule which includes not only attending the meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, but also those of other important groupings such as G-20, G-24 and Brazil, Russia, India and China, besides holding a series of bilateral meetings.

"During these meetings, the Finance Minister would be highlighting issues related to global economy, international financial architecture and cooperation on issues related to international taxation, besides expedition of action

on setting up of BRICS new developmental bank," an official said ahead of the meeting.

At the IMF, India is expected to link announcement of additional resources to the IMF to the implementation of 2012 quota reform, officials said.

Mukherjee is expected to kick-off his official meetings in Washington with bilaterals with the South Korean Finance Minister and the US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday.

The same day he is scheduled to attend the Finance Ministers meetings of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries.

Besides, he would chair a meeting of the G-24 countries.

Later, Mukherjee will speak on "Global Economy and Framework" in the first session of G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' meeting.

India and Canada are currently co-chairing the working group on global framework.