The North News
Chandigarh, September 27
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the fourth Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2025) in New Delhi on October 3. The three-day event, organised by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, will conclude on October 5 with closing remarks from External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. This year’s theme, “Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times”, will focus on India’s growth aspirations against a backdrop of global uncertainty, shifting geopolitics and economic turbulence. The conclave, to be held at the Taj Palace, will bring together policymakers, economists and international leaders from more than 30 countries. Highlights include a plenary on global macroeconomic prudence chaired by P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Former Banque de France governor Jean-Claude Trichet will discuss central banking challenges with Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
Among the international participants are Mari Elka Pangestu, former Indonesian trade minister; Taro Kono, member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party; Bai Chong-En from Tsinghua University; Lord Karan Bilimoria of the UK House of Lords; Andres Velasco of the London School of Economics; and economist Lord Nick Stern. A special luncheon session will address emerging communications technologies, led by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia with experts in AI and digital infrastructure. Other panels will explore industrial policy, BRICS architecture, healthcare, youth employment, urbanisation and the risks of new technologies.
Legal experts including Harish Salve, former solicitor general of India, and Larry Kramer, president of the London School of Economics, will examine how legal reforms can support growth, in a discussion chaired by Shaktikanta Das. The KEC has grown into a major platform for cross-border dialogue since its launch in 2022. Previous editions focused on themes such as climate finance, multilateralism and Asia’s rise. The forum has also hosted the Arun Jaitley Memorial Lecture, delivered by Singapore’s Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
