Hockey to make the most of US trip FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey will meet with the US central bank boss and the head of the International Monetary Fund during a trip to Washington and New York this week. Mr Hockey is attending the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting in Washington on October 10/11, as well as the IMF and World Bank annual meetings. "This trip will build on the relationships fostered during my time as a minister in the previous coalition government and my time as shadow treasurer," Mr Hockey said in a statement on Tuesday. The trip will also improve Australia's understanding of the range of risks facing the global economic recovery, including the impact of the United States government budget shutdown and the US debt ceiling debate. He believes the G20 meeting of major developed and developing countries is of "pivotal importance" as Australia takes the presidency of the organisation from December 1. Mr Hockey will hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with finance ministers from India, the UK, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Turkey, France and the Eurogroup. He will also get the opportunity for meetings with US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde, and World Bank president Jim Yong Kim. Mr Hockey will deliver a speech in New York to the American Australian Association titled "Australia: Open for Business," as well as meeting with a number of international business leaders and rating agencies.