Arun Jaitley to leave for US on April 12 to attend IMF-WB meet

The finance minister will leave Washington for New York on April 17

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will on Tuesday embark on a 10-day US tour during which he will participate in the IMF-WB meeting, address a UN session on drug problem and interact with investors.

In the first leg of his US tour, Jaitley will be in Washington to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

During his stay in Washington, the Finance Minister is also likely to meet the officials of the US administration, sources said.

The Spring Meetings will take stock of the global economic situation, which is yet to show signs of improvement.

IMF in its January update on World Economic Outlook had lowered the world growth projection for 2016 to 3.4% from 3.6%. For 2017 also it cut the forecast to 3.6% from 3.8%.

The Spring Meetings will also be attended by RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian.

Jaitley will leave Washington for New York on April 17.

During his second leg of his US trip, he will address a Special Session of the United Nations on the World Drug Problem on April 19.

In New York, Jaitley will hold meetings with business community and investors. The Finance Minister will hard sell India as an attractive investment destination and also seek funding for National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, India's maiden sovereign wealth fund.