The country’s largest business leaders award CNBCTV18-IBLA was held in Mumbai on Friday. This award is given to visionary industrialists and entrepreneurs for their significant contribution to various industries and sectors of the Indian corporate world. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also attended the award ceremony and interacted with top business leaders of the country. This is the 17th edition of the IBLA Awards.
FM answers business leaders’ questions
A townhall session was organized before the award ceremony, during which the Finance Minister answered questions from top business leaders of the country. During this, questions were asked from Nirmala Sitharaman on many issues including the revival of the economy and the current geopolitical tension.
Uday Kotak asked this question to FM
Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra Bank asked the finance minister what he would have done differently if he had known in advance that the Russia-Ukraine crisis was going to take this form. To this the Finance Minister said lightly, “I am not an astrologer who can predict such an event in advance.”
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Former SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya asked a question
Former SBI Chief Arundhati Bhattacharya asked the Finance Minister whether the ecosystem related to digitization will be further improved? On this Nirmala Sitharaman said that she had discussed the same subject with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on 31 March. “I asked him about the impact on people using the payments system who have nothing to do with the Russia-Ukraine dispute, but are still affected by the sanctions,” he said.
What FM said on the cryptocurrency bill?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was asked whether the government is going to introduce a bill related to cryptocurrencies and privatization of banks in the next session of Parliament. To this, the Finance Minister said, “The government will have to fulfill the commitments made by it.”
“India’s interest first”
The Finance Minister said, “India’s national interest, energy concerns should be above all. We have started buying cheap oil from Russia. If we are being offered oil at cheap rates, then why should we not take it earlier.” It should be beneficial for the people.”
“We have started buying oil from Russia. We have bought oil equivalent to at least 3 to 4 days’ supply. I will put my country’s interest and energy security above all,” she said. “I am keeping development in mind and making provisions to meet any contingency,” she said.
‘Government will bear fertilizer subsidy’
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government has decided to bear the loss due to subsidy on fertiliser, as “we could not burden the farmers of the country”.
FM says ‘thank you’ to India Inc for record exports
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the conclusion of town hall session with industry stalwarts said, “Indian industry should have more confidence in itself. Many thanks to all of you, that we have reached the export target of $400 billion. “
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