New Delhi / Asheville, USA: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman held a brief meeting with John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meetings in Asheville.
The interaction provided an opportunity for the two finance leaders to exchange views and discuss issues of mutual interest in the areas of economic cooperation, global finance and strengthening India–UK economic engagement.
Who is John Healey?
John Healey MP is a senior British Labour Party politician and the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, having been appointed to the post on 20 July 2026. He represents Rawmarsh and Conisbrough in the UK House of Commons and has been an MP since 1997.
Before becoming Chancellor, Healey served as Secretary of State for Defence from July 2024 to June 2026. Earlier in his political career, he held several ministerial responsibilities, including positions at the Treasury, where he served as Economic Secretary and later Financial Secretary during the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
His appointment as Chancellor brings to the UK Treasury a politician with substantial experience in economic affairs as well as defence and government policy. In his new role, Healey is responsible for the UK’s economic and fiscal policy as head of HM Treasury.
The meeting between Sitharaman and Healey comes at an important time for India–UK economic relations, with both countries seeking to expand trade, investment and financial cooperation. Their engagement at the G20 also assumes significance as major economies work together on issues concerning global economic stability, sustainable growth and international financial cooperation.
In essence, the meeting brought together the Finance Ministers of India and the UK at the G20 platform to exchange views on global economic challenges and explore avenues for strengthening bilateral economic and financial cooperation.