Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is among the 100 most influential women driving the UK-India relationship forward alongside one of Britain’s senior-most Cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt.
The ‘100 Most Influential in UK-India Relations: CelebratingWomen’ list was launched by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid to mark India Day inthe Houses of Parliament in London on Monday.
It credited Sitharaman, also the Minister of CorporateAffairs, as one of India’s most “powerful women” who plays a”pivotal” role in the bilateral relationship – as India’s formerdefence minister and now finance minister.
“Having studied at the London School of Economics (LSE)and worked in the UK in her previous career, Nirmala is familiar with the UKmore so than probably all her other colleagues,” notes the power list,released by UK-based media house India Inc.
Penny Mordaunt, Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence, isthe other senior politician in the list who is credited as the first woman tobe assigned the role in the UK Cabinet.
“With India emerging as the world’s largest importer ofdefence products, and a significant strategic partner for the UK, Penny plays acrucial role in the UK-India relationship,” her citation notes.
Ruchi Ghanashyam, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK,who is herself honoured in the list, welcomed the compilation as a recognitionof the “front and centre role” played by women in the bilateralrelationship.
“This list highlights the huge potential for the futureof the UK and India as they continue to forge on together as two greatcountries. From business to politics, and art and literacy, women arecontinuing to pave the way in bringing together this bold partnership throughcollaboration and relationships,” she said.The women in the list, now in its third year,hold positions of influence in India and the UK across 11 broad sectorsincluding politics, technology and sustainability.