Event Summary
India's Finance Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, discussed his nation's economic outlook and the status of its economic reforms at the Peterson Institute on April 19, 2013. Finance Minister Chidambaram has been at the forefront of the Indian government's program to liberalize the economy, encourage foreign direct investment, reduce fuel subsidies, and revive tax reform.
In late February, ahead of the national elections, Chidambaram presented the final budget, which was widely credited as resisting pre-election fiscal populism. A senior official of the Indian National Congress party, Chidambaram has been a member of the Indian parliament for several decades and has held many important cabinet positions, including previous service as Minister of Finance, Home Affairs, and of Commerce.