Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will call on Vietnamese Prime Minister during his two days visit to Hanoi, Vietnambeginning tomorrow i.e. 3^rd May, 2011. Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee is  visiting Hanoi in order to attend 44^th Board of Governors’ Annual Meet of Asian Development Bank (ADB).  Shri Mukherjee will leave tomorrow afternoon and will return on the night of 5^th May, 2011.  During his  bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister , both the leaders are likely to discuss matters of mutual interest .India has granted Market Economy Status toVietnam in  2009. Issues of investment by Indian companies inVietnam may also come up for discussion during this meeting.

.Beside above, the  Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee will also have bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart as well as with President, Asian Development Bank (ADB).Since India has completed 25 years of its association with ADB, therefore, having silver jubilee celebrations in India this year may also come for discussion during Finance Minister’s meeting with ADB President.

 Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee first engagement would be his participation in a Seminar of Board of Governors’ of ADB on “Asia 2050: Pursuit of Growth, Sustainability and Well-being” on the morning of 4^th May, 2011.  The discussion would be based on a study commissioned by ADB on the said subject.   Thereafter, he will attend ADB G-20 Luncheon event where discussion on the subject “Priorities for the G20 in 2011” would take place. Thereafter, a meeting of ADB, G-20 Presidency and IMF would be held to discuss “Reform of the International Monetary System” This will be followed by SAARC Finance Ministers’ Meeting which will discuss the decisions taken in the last SAARC Finance Ministers’ Meeting held in August 2010 inThimpu,Bhutan.  A draft agreement on promotion of investment is also likely to be discussed.   In the evening, the Finance Minister will attend the joint meeting of ADB, IMF, Japanese ASEAN and French G-20 regarding reform in the International Monetary System (IMF)  In the evening, he will host Constituency Dinner for the First time.

On 5^th May, 2011, the Finance Minister will attend the opening session of the Board of Governors of ADB which will be followed by Governors’ Round Table meeting on ‘Managing Inflation and Capital Flows’.  In the afternoon, the Finance Minister will participate and speak in the First Business Session of Board of Governors’ of ADB.  Thereafter, in the evening, the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjeee will depart for back  home.

Market economy status and investment promotion to feature in ministerial discussions at Asian Development Bank meetings. Attendance at the Asian Development Bank's 44th Board meeting will anchor bilateral and multilateral discussions on Market Economy Status to Vietnam, facilitation of Indian investment in Vietnam, a draft agreement on promotion of investment, and multilateral dialogue on International Monetary System reform as well as managing inflation and capital flows.