The fourth chapter of the Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2025) is set to be unveiled on October 3 in New Delhi by Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.
This year, the theme for the three-day conclave is, ‘Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times’, which is “relevant both in the context of India’s growth aspirations and its success in navigating times of exceptional uncertainty, turbulence and changing geopolitics,” said the finance ministry in a statement on Saturday.
The ministry further said the agenda blends immediate policy priorities with longer-term shifts, combining India's domestic priorities with global perspectives and charting pathways to prosperity in a time of turbulence.
The KEC was initiated in 2022 by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), under the presidency of NK Singh in close partnership with the Ministry of Finance. This is a by-invitation-only forum that has grown over the years, and is now marked by international presence with 75 participants flying in from over 30 countries.
While special luncheon sessions will include a session on, ‘Communications: Emerging Technologies, which will be led by the Communications Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the concluding day, October 5, will see the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, close the proceedings with reflections on India's foreign and economic policy.
Also Read: FM hails India's resilience amid global headwinds
The conclave will culminate in a high-level plenary on global macroeconomic prudence, which will be chaired by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
The platform is expected to bring together senior policymakers and economists to evaluate the health of the world economy and the reforms needed in financial governance, the ministry said.
Besides discussions on Asia's emergence as a global growth hub, the evolving BRICS architecture, financial stability, and new directions in industrial policy will also be under the scanner.
Other panels will explore universal healthcare, youth employment, urbanisation, trade and regional integration, and the risks and rewards of emerging technologies.
Jean-Claude Trichet, Honorary Governor of the Banque de France, will be in conversation with the Reserve Bank of India Governor, Sanjay Malhotra, on the challenges of central banking in turbulent times.
Other international leaders who will be present include Mari Elka Pangestu, former Indonesian Minister of Trade, and Taro Kono, Member of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party.
They will be joined by Bai Chong-En, Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University; Lord Karan Bilimoria, Member of the UK House of Lords; Andres Velasco, Dean of the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics; Lord Nick Stern, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics; and Jean-Pierre Landau, former Deputy Governor of the Banque de France.
Legal voices, such as Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor of the London School of Economics, and Harish Salve, Senior Advocate and former Solicitor General of India, will discuss how reforms in the legal framework can underpin growth and strengthen the rule of law in a session chaired by Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary-II to the Prime Minister.
The first edition of the conclave in 2022 was themed, 'Redefining the Future', and drew participants from 21 countries for wide-ranging debates on technology, climate, and fiscal policy, alongside the inaugural Arun Jaitley Memorial Lecture by Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
In 2023, 'Navigating a World on Fire' set the stage for high-level conversations on MDB reform, climate finance, and geopolitical turbulence.
The 2024 Conclave was themed, 'The Indian Era', with debates on green transitions, Asia's rise, and the future of multilateralism.
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