The challenges facing the global community can only be resolved through collective action and the focus should be on the global south or developing countries whose needs are greatest, India’s G20 chief Amitabh Kant said on Monday as deliberations began to set the agenda for India’s chairmanship G20. The G20 sherpas, or personal representatives of heads of state and government, and top officials of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank are attending two sessions at the Taj Fateh Prakash Hotel on the banks of Lake Pichola in Rajasthan’s Udaipur to discuss technological transformation and green development.
In a speech outlining India’s priorities, Kant said the country’s G20 presidency would strive to promote unity in line with the theme of “One Country, One Family, One Future” and reflect the aspirations of not only the G20 partners but also the “Global South”. , whose voice is often unheard”.
Create an inclusive future
“The challenges we face today can only be solved by working together through hope, harmony and healing, and our first concern should be with those who need it most. That’s why we need to focus on the Global South as well,” he said. The world faces a “huge number of challenges” and the Sherpas will have to “create an inclusive future” for which India is ready to share its expertise in key areas such as the use of digital tools and financial inclusion initiatives, he said. .
“Our prime minister said we want to be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented and decisive. We will, but it is not possible or possible without all of you. Therefore, we would like to receive positive and forward-looking support from all of you to make the G20 a very vibrant, very dynamic and very positive group that will drive global growth, global sustainability and digital transformation,” he said.
The Indian side, he said, will emphasize mutually beneficial cooperation between developing countries and advanced economies and the need to build new approaches that will benefit the world on key issues. Three more sessions will be held on Tuesday, focusing on accelerated, inclusive and resilient growth, multilateralism and food, fuel and fertilizers and women-led development, tourism and culture. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “These talks will set the agenda for India’s chairmanship of the G20. India’s G20 sherpa will inform its counterparts from other countries about India’s expectations and set hundreds of upcoming meetings in motion.”
G7 price cap on Russian offshore oil
Kant will lead the proceedings at these sessions and the discussions will be attended by all G20 Sherpas and officials from the nine host countries invited by Delhi. The talks began as a Group of Seven (G7) price cap on Russian offshore oil took effect on Monday as part of efforts by Western powers to curb Russia’s ability to finance the war in Ukraine.
With the divisions created by the Ukraine crisis hanging over the G20, the Indian side said it would focus on ensuring inclusive growth during an overarching deliberation on the course the grouping will take in the coming year. Kant said the G20 Sherpas will focus on resilient global value chains in trade and investment and accelerating progress on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Employment Taskforce will focus on addressing global skills gaps, sustainable social security funding and the gig and platform economy.
The Tourism Task Force will address green tourism and digitization for the transformation of tourism, while the Agriculture Task Force will focus on enhancing food security, climate smart approach and use of technology and digitization for agriculture. The Digital Economy Task Force will focus on digital public infrastructure, including India’s experience in creating digital identities, opening bank accounts to lift large sections of the population above the poverty line through direct benefit transfers and quick payments. On health, the discussion will focus on prevention, health crises, digital health for universal access and better service delivery, and strengthening cooperation on vaccines, medicines and diagnostics.
By: Vaishali verma