MUMBAI, June 24 (ANI) — Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, serving as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, praised India’s progress in financial inclusion and digital public infrastructure during her three-day visit to the country, while emphasizing the need to ensure those advances translate into improved lives for citizens.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Queen Máxima highlighted India’s achievements in expanding access to financial services and strengthening digital systems.
“I am extremely happy to be back in India. I’ve been working a lot with India for a long time on financial inclusion. Now, it is about financial health, which is very important. You’ve done a wonderful job with digital public infrastructure. Now the issue is how to make and use this to improve the lives of the people,” she said.
When asked about the performance of the Netherlands national soccer team in the FIFA World Cup, she replied, “We hope to be in the finals. We have a long way to go.”
In a post on X, the Netherlands Embassy in India, Nepal, and Bhutan welcomed Queen Máxima to India for her three-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi in her role as the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health.
According to an official press release from the Royal House of the Netherlands, the visit, taking place from June 23 to June 25 at the invitation of the Government of India, is focused on advancing financial health and building upon India’s achievements in financial inclusion.
The release noted that approximately 89 percent of Indians now have a bank account and improved access to loans, savings products, insurance, and pensions, supported by initiatives such as Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The visit is centered on improving the quality of financial services so that individuals can better manage income and expenses, build savings, invest responsibly, and secure their financial futures.
During her visit to Mumbai on Tuesday, Queen Máxima met with nurses and young professionals who use digital financial platforms such as SalarySe and Jupiter Money to manage finances, save, and invest.
She also participated in discussions on financial health challenges faced by women and rural communities, the role of artificial intelligence in providing personalized financial advice, and efforts to prevent digital fraud and strengthen consumer protection.
On Wednesday, Queen Máxima is scheduled to attend discussions focused on measuring financial health and promoting financial well-being among Indian women. Her Mumbai visit is expected to conclude with a meeting with Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra.
In New Delhi on Thursday, she is scheduled to attend the Financial Health Demo Day at the Gates Foundation, where Indian companies will showcase innovations designed to improve financial health.
She will also participate in discussions on responsible data sharing, AI-powered services for farmers, and pension solutions for workers in the informal sector.
The visit is expected to conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which Queen Máxima will share her observations and findings from the trip.
This marks Queen Máxima’s fourth visit to India in her U.N. advocacy role, following previous visits in 2014, 2018, and 2022. (ANI)
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