Chief Coordinator writes to CSs of States/UTs
*Process to finalize draft calendar on
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 11: The External Affairs Ministry (EAM) proposed to hold 190 meetings across India including a number of them in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh culminating with the G-20 Summit in New Delhi in October/ November 2023.
This has been revealed in a letter to Chief Secretaries of different States and Union Territories including those from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh written by the G-20 Chief Coordinator. The Chief Coordinator has also held a meeting with Resident Commissioners of States and UTs.
“India’s efforts to host a unique and impeccable ‘Indian’ G-20 would necessitate a whole of Government approach. The support of our States and Union Territories would be critical in hosting a successful G-20 Presidency. It is estimated that during the period of our Presidency, about 190 meetings would be held across India, culminating with G-20 Summit in New Delhi in October/November 2023,” the letter said.
Sources said a number of meetings from out of a total of 190 are being allotted to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh notwithstanding objections from China.
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been asked to gear up well in advance for hosting the meetings. The two Union Territories have already appointed Nodal Officers for making all preparations for the meetings.
The G-20 Secretariat is in the process of finalizing a draft calendar of G-20 meetings and the venues involved. An initial draft has already been shared with the Resident Commissioners as it provides a list of the shortlisted cities to enable States/UTs to initiate plans accordingly.
The final calendar would be shared shortly along with the venues for the meeting, cultural events and planned excursion sites, if any, the letter read.
“Engagement and support of the States and UTs would be required at every stage of hosting the meetings including guidance and facilitation on identification of venues, accommodation of delegates and cultural events, visits to excursion sites, security, visa and immigration facilitation of delegates, transport and other logistical arrangements, preparation of delegation kits to showcase unique handicrafts and artistic heritage of the State/UT etc,” the Chief Coordinator has said in his letter.
As a matter of fact, he added, hosting of G-20 meetings in any State/UT would be an opportunity to showcase their development, infrastructure, culture and heritage to the world.
Sources said India will hold the G-20 Presidency from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. India’s Presidency of G-20 provides a unique opportunity to place the country’s narrative in the global agenda and to showcase India’s development and cultural diversity.
They added that with a view to implement overall policy decisions and arrangements needed for steering India’s forthcoming G-20 Presidency in 2022-23, the G-20 Secretariat has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs by a Cabinet order.
As reported earlier, the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have nominated Nodal Officers for making preparations for G-20 meetings. Sources said both the UTs are set to host series of meetings of G-20 out of a total of 190 proposed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Sources said 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.
The G-20 is an influential grouping that brings together the world’s major economies.
The Ministry of External Affairs had said that India will hold the G-20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, and will convene the G-20 leaders’ summit in 2023 for the first time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been leading India’s representation at G-20 summits since 2014. India has been a member of the G-20 since its inception in 1999.
According to the MEA, India will be part of the G-20 Troika (preceding, current, and incoming G-20 Presidencies) from December 1, 2022 till November 30, 2023.
G-20 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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