Saudi Arabia is India’s trusted and valued strategic partner: FM Sitharaman

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Doha, Sep 29 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has conveyed that Saudi Arabia is India’s trusted and valued strategic partner, highlighting the wide-ranging partnership between the two countries across defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

She met Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the ‘AIIB 2026 Annual Meeting’ here, who congratulated the Union Finance Minister on India’s robust economic performance and improving investment climate, and shared his perspective on the Saudi economy.

Both the Ministers welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the India-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which will provide a stronger and more predictable framework for bilateral investments and further strengthen investor confidence, according to Finance Ministry.

Aljadaan said that Saudi Arabia looks forward to its early implementation.

Recalling the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision expressed during his state visit to Saudi Arabia, both the Ministers discussed further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Aljadaan expressed keen interest in welcoming investments from India.

In her meeting with Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri, AIIB Governor from Switzerland, she highlighted the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund as a trusted partner for foreign investors seeking to access opportunities in India, with high standards of governance and transparency; and Swiss investors could explore NIIF infrastructure funds to gain exposure to India’s infrastructure sector.

Ambassador Lazzeri said that Switzerland sees significant opportunities in India for portfolio diversification and investment. He mentioned the upcoming State Visit to India and the 2nd EFTA Prosperity Summit in New Delhi. He said Swiss Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) growth in India is outpacing global FDI and sought support for finalisation of the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement.

Lazzeri also expressed interest in cooperation in the financial sector and sustainable finance, said Finance Ministry.

FM Sitharaman encouraged Swiss investors and financial services entities to explore investment opportunities in India’s homegrown financial services centre in GIFT IFSC, which offers financial services and products, tax benefits and a business-friendly environment.

She also met Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. Both the Ministers were pleased to meet again and noted the opportunity to follow up on the discussions held during their meeting in New Delhi.

The discussions covered Nepal’s assessment and priorities for reconstruction and recovery following the floods, with emphasis on continued engagement between the teams to work out the specifics of any support that India can provide at this critical time.

The Ministers also discussed the progress of projects taken up during the New Delhi meeting and emphasised the need for continued engagement. The early operationalisation and utilisation of the UPI-NPI linkage was also discussed as an initiative beneficial to both countries, said the statement.

—IANS

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Tamil Nadu’s Mettur dam reaches full capacity for third time in 2025, flood alert issued

Chennai, July 20 (IANS) The Mettur Dam, one of Tamil Nadu’s key water reservoirs, reached its full capacity of 120 feet for the third time this year on Sunday, following continuous inflows from catchment areas due to heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats and surrounding regions.

Authorities have increased the water discharge from the dam from 22,500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to 31,000 cusecs in order to manage the rising water level.

The steady rise in inflows has prompted the Water Resources Department to make the adjustment to prevent overflow and ensure the structural safety of the dam.

The surge in water release has brought cheer to farmers across the delta districts, who rely heavily on the Cauvery river for irrigation.

With the monsoon rain replenishing the dam, agricultural activities are expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks, offering a much-needed boost to the kharif cultivation season.

However, even as farmers celebrate the abundant water supply, district administrations have issued a flood warning to residents living along the banks of the Cauvery river.

People in low-lying and flood-prone areas have been advised to stay vigilant, and local officials are closely monitoring the situation.

The Mettur Dam, also known as the Stanley Reservoir, plays a crucial role in regulating the Cauvery river system and supporting irrigation across several districts in Tamil Nadu.

Officials have stated that discharge levels will be continuously reviewed, based on inflow patterns and rainfall intensity in the coming days.

Revenue and Disaster Management Department officials are on high alert, coordinating with local bodies to prepare for any emergency evacuation or relief measures.

Meanwhile, tourists and the general public have been restricted from entering areas close to the dam and riverbanks for safety reasons.

The dam had previously touched its full capacity earlier this year in January and again in June, reflecting the intensity of this year’s monsoon pattern. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and follow official advisories.

–IANS

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2 held in Ujjain; Rs 17.5 lakh counterfeit notes seized

Ujjain/Indore, Dec 5 (IANS) The Crime Branch of Madhya Pradesh Police has seized Rs 17.5 lakh counterfeit notes following a raid conducted in Chimanganj area of Ujjain district on Friday, officials said.

The police have arrested two persons involved in printing fake currency, while the third accused identified as Rajesh Barbate, who is said to be the kingpin of the gang busted, remained absconding.

Confirming the report, Ujjain Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma told IANS that the accused persons have been identified as Chinu Gauser and Dipesh Chouhan.

He said that an extensive search operation has been launched to nab the absconding third accused.

The police officer also told that based on inputs, a team of Crime Branch of Ujjain police raided Rajesh Barbate’s residence in Ganga Vihar colony in Indore.

During the police search, the police uncovered printing machines, high-security threads, and other equipment.

SP Sharma said that the investigation said that the trio have been actively involved in printing and circulating counterfeit notes for the last few years.

Previously, in 2023, the trio were arrested in connection with counterfeit notes in Neelganga and Annpurna police stations in Indore.

“The Crime Branch team along with Chimanganj police have arrested two persons from Ujjain and have recovered counterfeit notes worth Rs 17.5 lakh from them. They are being interrogated and the investigation is underway,” SP Sharma added.

It came more than two weeks after 21-year-old Vivek Yadav was arrested for running a sophisticated counterfeit currency operation from his rented home in the Karond area in Bhopal on November 14.

During the search at his rented flat, the police have recovered Rs 2.25 lakh counterfeit notes, along with high-end printing machinery, specialised paper, inks, and other materials used to produce fake currency.

During the police questioning, Vivek Yadav had admitted to circulating worth Rs 5–6 lakh of fake notes over the past year, primarily targeting small shops.

The investigations continue into whether he was acting alone or part of a larger network.

Vivek Yadav, who has only completed up to Class 10, taught himself the art of producing high-quality fake currency by watching online videos, reading specialised books, and leveraging experience from a previous job in a printing press, police had said.

–IANS

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MP BJP’s campaign on Budget and VB-G Ram G Bill reviewed

Bhopal, Feb 4 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary (organisation), B. L. Santhosh, on Wednesday arrived in Bhopal, and held a meeting with state party leaders looking after the ongoing awareness campaign on the Union Budget and VB-G Ram G- Bill.

Upon reaching the state party headwaters in Bhopal, B L Santhosh received a warm welcome from the party state party workers and office bearers, including state in-charge Mahendra Singh.

“BJP national general secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh addressed a working meeting of the budget awareness campaign and the state team of VB-Ramji at the BJP state office on Wednesday.

The party’s state in-charge, Mahendra Singh, was also present at the meeting,” according to Madhya Pradesh BJP media cell.

Before chairing the crucial meeting, B L Santhosh visited a private hospital to inquire about the health of former Madhya Pradesh (organisational) general secretary Hitanand Sharma’s mother.

Hitanand Sharma’s mother is seriously ill and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhopal, and B L Santosh’s visit to the hospital is being viewed as a positive message within the organisation.

Notably, Hitanand Sharma, who served as state general secretary (organisation) for over four years, has been transferred back into the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organisation.

He has been transferred as the head of the RSS’ Boudhik Prokosht’ regional office in Jabalpur. He was given the responsibility of the RSS in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The decision was taken during an RSS meeting held in Indore a few days ago, sources told IANS.

Sharma, who was associated with Vidya Bharti for a long time, was first appointed as co-organisational general secretary of the state BJP in 2020, when Suhas Bhagat was the organisational general secretary.

Along with Sharma, the RSS made three other appointments: Surendra Mishra, a pracharak, was shifted to the Purv Sainik Seva Parishad; Mukesh Tyagi, another pracharak, was appointed in the Grahak Panchayat; and Brijkishore Bhargava was made the regional Gau Seva chief.

–IANS

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