On March 10, 2026, H.E. Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank, met with India’s Finance Minister, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, in New Delhi to reaffirm the strong partnership between India and the NDB, and explore opportunities to deepen cooperation in support of India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
President Dilma Rousseff highlighted NDB’s expanding engagement with India, noting that since its inception in 2015, the Bank has committed nearly USD 10 billion across 32 projects, including transformative infrastructure such as metro rail systems and the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor.
The discussion also covered NDB’s plan to launch an Indian Rupee bond programme, designed to mobilise around INR 250 billion over five years. This initiative aims to finance infrastructure in local currency, mitigating foreign exchange risks for projects. The meeting noted India’s leadership in digital innovation, clean energy transition, and advanced healthcare infrastructure. They explored how NDB can further support India’s priorities through trade financing, equity participation in private sector operations and infrastructure funds, knowledge exchange, and new initiatives at the intersection of AI, digital infrastructure, and climate action.
President Dilma Rousseff extended an invitation to Finance Minister Sitharaman to visit NDB’s headquarters in Shanghai and attend NDB’s Annual Meeting in Moscow in May 2026, reaffirming India’s foundational role in the Bank and its continued leadership in shaping its future.