Pranab Mukherjee to attend G-20 finance ministers' meet in Paris

New Delhi, Feb 17 (ANI) Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will leave for Paris on Thursday evening on a three-day visit to attend G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' meet from February 18.

During his stay in Paris, Mukherjee will hold his first meeting with his French counterpart Christine Legarde on Friday where the two leaders are expected to discuss both bilateral and multi lateral issues of mutual interest, including revenue related matters.

Later, he would attend BRIC Finance Ministers meeting which would be attended among others by the Finance Minister of host China, the Finance Ministers of Brazil, Russia and South Africa .

The agenda would include G 20 framework and mutual assessment, reform of the International Monetary System, preparations for BRIC Summit (Beijing) and BRIC economic co-operation.

In the evening, a reception would be hosted by French President Sarkozy at Elysee Palace.

Mukherjee would be accompanied by Reserve Bank Governor Subba Rao and Secretary, Economic Affairs, R.Gopalan, at the reception.

The first session of G-20 Finance Ministers meeting would be on the global economy and framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth.

Mukherjee will also be a lead speaker along with Canadian finance minister Jim Flaherty at the conference, which is expected to open with a presentation on the global economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The main focus of the first session is expected to be on progress of the Framework Working Group (FWG) on developing indicative guidelines for assessing and addressing persistent global imbalances as mandated by Leaders in Seoul Summit under the Seoul Action Plan. India co-chairs the working group along with Canada. (ANI)