India’s Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, participated in a high-level Finance Ministerial meeting hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington. The meeting focused on securing and diversifying global critical minerals supply chains, particularly rare-earth elements crucial for advanced manufacturing and electronics. Vaishnaw emphasized India’s priorities in enhancing manufacturing capabilities and the electronics sector.
The ministerial, held at the United States Treasury, gathered finance ministers and senior economic leaders from major global economies such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Discussions included presentations by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, John Jovanovic, and JP Morgan Managing Director Jay Horine on key focus areas.
Participants at the meeting expressed a strong commitment to addressing vulnerabilities in critical minerals supply chains, which are increasingly concentrated and at risk of disruption and manipulation. The United States outlined current actions and planned initiatives to establish resilient, secure, and diversified supply chains. Secretary Bessent stressed the importance of international cooperation to strengthen supply chain resilience and avoid fragmentation, emphasizing the need for decisive action.
