G-20 meetings likely to be held in Jammu or Srinagar
UT braces up, EAM to take final call
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 24: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to host 2023 meetings of G-20, an influential group in the world, if everything goes well but timing and venue of the meetings will be decided later by the External Affairs Ministry.
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Dheeraj Gupta, who has been nominated as Nodal Officer by the Jammu and Kashmir Government for coordinating the meetings, said everything is at preliminary stage and dates are yet to be finalized but they are in the process of making arrangements.
“A final decision will be taken by the Government of India (on holding the meetings),” Gupta said.
He added that some more States have also been asked to make arrangements for the meetings.
However, as per official sources, the meetings most likely are to be held in Jammu and Kashmir.
Whether they are held in Jammu or Srinagar will depend on timing of the meetings, they said, adding if the meetings are finalized between January-March, they could be held in Jammu but if they are scheduled for summer, the venue will be Srinagar.
But, they clarified that a call on such sensitive issues has to be taken by the External Affairs Ministry including timing, venue etc.
“Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory has to make arrangements for historical international event if it is finally assigned to it,” sources said.
They added that conduct of such an event in Jammu and Kashmir especially in the Valley will show that the UT is near normal and capable of holding international events of grand scale especially after abrogation of special status of erstwhile State.
In such a scenario, the event could be held in Srinagar.
As per the sources, the External Affairs Ministry has to consult all heads of G-20 before finalizing timing of the meetings. In view of this, a decision on timing and venue might well be taken by the end of this year.
It may be mentioned here that the Election Commission of India has also set the process in motion for conduct of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by announcing publication of draft rolls by August 31 and asking the CEO to collect over 14,500 VVPATs from the ECIL Hyderabad.
The G-20 is an influential grouping that brings together the world’s major economies.
In September last year, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was appointed as India’s Sherpa for the G20. The Ministry of External Affairs had said that India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, and will convene the G20 leaders’ summit in 2023 for the first time.
According to an official order issued here on Thursday, the Union Territory’s Housing and Urban Development Department Principal Secretary Dheeraj Gupta will be the chairman of the committee which was formed in response to a June 4 communication from the Ministry of External Affairs.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee… for overall co-ordination of G-20 meetings to be held in the Union Territory of J&K,” the order issued by Principal Secretary, General Administration Department, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi said.
The members of the committee include Commissioner / Secretary (Transport), Administrative Secretary (Tourism), Administrative Secretary (Hospitality and Protocol) and Administrative Secretary (Culture).
“Further, Principal Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department is also nominated as UT level Nodal Officer to coordinate the arrangements for G-20 meetings in the Union Territory of J&K,” the order said.
Prime Minister Modi has been leading India’s representation at G20 summits since 2014. India has been a member of the G20 since its inception in 1999.
According to the MEA, India will be part of the G20 Troika (preceding, current, and incoming G20 Presidencies) from December 1, 2021 till November 30, 2024.
G20 brings together 19 of the world’ leading economies and the European Union, with its members accounting for more than 80 per cent of global GDP, 75 percent of global trade and 60 percent of the global population, according to the MEA.
G20 member nations are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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