Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the fourth edition of the Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC) on 3 October. Organised by the Institute of Economic Growth, the three-day event will run from 3 to 5 October under the theme “Seeking Prosperity in Turbulent Times.”

According to the Ministry of Finance, the theme reflects both India’s growth ambitions and its success in navigating global uncertainty, turbulence and shifting geopolitics.

The sessions will cover Asia’s role as a global growth hub, the evolving BRICS framework, financial stability, and new directions in industrial policy. A key highlight will be a discussion between Jean-Claude Trichet, Honorary Governor of the Banque de France, and Sanjay Malhotra, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, on the challenges of central banking.

Other participants include Mari Elka Pangestu, former Indonesian Trade Minister; Taro Kono, member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party; and Karan Bilimoria, member of the UK House of Lords.

The programme also features a session on “Communications: Emerging Technologies” led by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, with discussions on AI and digital infrastructure. A plenary on global macroeconomic prudence will be chaired by P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

The conclave, conceived and sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, was launched in July 2022. Previous editions addressed themes such as “Redefining the Future,” “Navigating a World on Fire,” and “The Indian Era.” Past participants have included Anne Krueger of Johns Hopkins University, economist Nick Stern of the LSE, and Martin Wolf of the Financial Times.