DFI as Panel Speaker in Rome, Italy for IFAD's “Paths to Prosperity: The India Story”
Development Finance International (DFI) was invited to speak in a high-level panel discussion hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at its headquarters in Rome on 9 December 2025. With the theme of “Paths to Prosperity: The India Story”, the event highlighted India’s global leadership in reducing poverty and strengthening food systems, while showcasing models that can be replicated across the Global South.
IFAD President, Mr. Alvaro Lario, and Ms. Anu Mathai, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, and India’s Alternate Governor to IFAD, were the Chief Guests among several.
DFI’s own Ms. Rupa Rai Maitra was a panel speaker and highlighted how DFI play a big role in bridging successful collaborations between the private sector and development ecosystems.
Ms. Maitra shared how a partnership facilitated under IFAD-supported programmes such as Tejaswini and NavTejaswini in Maharashtra have enabled women-led community institutions to evolve into viable agri-service enterprises serving over 50,000 rural households. Through alliances such as the Better Life Farming Alliance, DFI continues to facilitate sustainable, market-linked solutions—bringing together private sector innovation, strong grassroots institutions, and development finance to drive productivity, market access, and long-term rural prosperity.
DFI's own Rupa Rai Maitra as a panel speaker for “Paths to Prosperity: The India Story”