New Delhi, 17th July 2023: India’s current presidency of the G20 has been making significant strides, with nearly 150 meetings scheduled to take place by the end of July, involving over 15,000 delegates. These meetings have been strategically organized across 50 cities, marking the largest event hosted by any G20 presidency in terms of geographical coverage.
Government officials have emphasized the importance of India’s G20 presidency and the challenges it presents to future presiding countries like Brazil. The successful G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir has also sent a powerful message to the world, as stated by a senior government official.
The highlight of India’s G20 presidency will be the Leaders Summit scheduled for September 9 and 10 at Delhi’s renovated Pragati Maidan complex. By the conclusion of its presidency, India will have held over 216 G20 meetings in 60 cities across the country, complemented by nearly 200 cultural events.
Prior to India, the Indonesian G20 presidency had approximately 180 meetings scheduled across over 20 cities. The Brazilian envoy to India has expressed admiration for India’s efforts in its G20 presidency, setting high standards for the upcoming presidency.
Harsh Vardhan Singla, India’s G20 chief coordinator, has acknowledged the progress made so far, surpassing the halfway mark with 120 meetings held by May 31. In March, India hosted the largest-ever gathering of foreign ministers. While the initial goal of organizing over 216 G20-related meetings in 60 cities seemed ambitious, India, under the confident leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has achieved significant milestones in the first six months of the presidency.
Singla highlighted India’s commitment to uniting the world on global issues with a human-centric approach, reflecting PM Modi’s vision. The focus on unity and oneness has been a defining aspect of India’s G20 presidency, with further tangible outcomes expected in the future.
India has introduced a new workstream for disaster risk reduction and established an engagement group on Startup20 as part of its initiatives. The country has also advocated for the Global South. The G20 meeting on tourism in Srinagar is anticipated to bolster visitor numbers to the region from all countries.
India’s G20 presidency signifies the nation’s growing influence on the global stage and its commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. As the meetings continue, India’s leadership sends a strong message to the world about its dedication to fostering cooperation, unity, and progress on a global scale.
