Eyes inclusive and sustainable development; MEA calls for support
PANAJI
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said that the host of G20 Summit, India, has put forth an ambitious agenda for the Development Working Group (DWG) which aims to bring inclusive and sustainable development and accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the forefront.
In his video address to the VIP delegates attending the 3rd G20 DWG meeting on Tuesday, MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi highlighted India’s ambitious agenda for the DWG while adding that outcome documents proposed by India including High-Level Principles (HLPs) for Data for Development, HLPs for LiFE and Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on SDGs will directly feed into Leaders’ level document and the Green Development Pact that will be adopted at the Leaders’ summit in September.
He urged the DWG to work towards consensus documents and requested support from all delegations.
More than 80 delegates from G20 members, nine invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations participated in the meeting that will be held till May 11, 2023. The meeting is being co-chaired by India’s DWG Co-Chairs – MEA Joint Secretaries Nagaraj K Naidu and Eenam Gambhir.
The sessions on Data for Development and HLPs on LiFE saw exhaustive and engaging discussions and negotiations for finalising the language of outcome documents that reflects the strong collective will of G20 to work together on the development agenda. Satisfactory progress was achieved during the sessions in coming to a common understanding on a lot of issues.
An exhibition showcasing India’s women-led initiatives was inaugurated before the start of the formal meeting in the morning. The exhibition is based on the theme of “ECHO” – Economy with safe climate and health leads to greater opportunities and was organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs.
The exhibition was curated by the National Institute of Fashion Technology and showcased products conceived, designed, and made by women entrepreneurs, such as handloom and textile items; handicrafts; tea, spices, ayurvedic products, and millet-based food products.
All the DWG delegates took a tour of the exhibition and appreciated the live demonstrations, products, and immersive digital experience with 3D holograms.
An exquisite art and craft exhibition has also been curated by Serendipity Arts at the meeting venue that was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the presence of senior government officials and DWG delegates. The exhibition showcased rich and varied craft traditions from different parts of India that have shaped many cultural identities and are being reinvented through innovative applications in modern designs.
The day concluded with a cultural evening and gala dinner, wherein G20 DWG delegates along with senior functionaries from the Goa Government and the Government of India, witnessed scintillating performances that provided a glimpse into the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Goa.
