Discussions on India’s DWG Priorities begin on Day 2 of the 1st Development Working Group Meeting in Mumbai
Substantive discussions on India’s
key priorities proposed for the Development Working Group (DWG) agenda began on
Day 2 of the 1st DWG Meeting in Mumbai, Maharashtra, today — with Session 1 on
‘Accelerating Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals,’ being held in two
segments.
The DWG, one of 13 Working Groups under the G20 Sherpa Track, has been the
custodian of the development agenda in the G20 since its inception in 2010. It
was also one of the first WGs to be conceptualised after the 2008 financial
crisis.
The three-day DWG meeting, that will
be held from 13-16 December, will underscore cross-cutting developmental issues
with a sharp focus on India’s DWG priorities for the year, which include —
harnessing the transformative power of data for development, mainstreaming
India’s commitment to Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) as a global movement,
and accelerating progress on SDGs through the levers of women-led development,
digital transformation, and just green transitions — all cross-cutting enablers
with large multiplier effects.
The meeting today began with a video
message by Foreign Secretary of India, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who highlighted India’s
responsibility as voice of the Global South to accurately represent the
multifaceted interests of the developing nations of the world. Acknowledging
Indonesia’s leadership in delivering successful outcomes last year, Mr. Kwatra
said that “We, on our side, resolve to take forward and strengthen consensus on
key global issues in the G20.”
India’s DWG co-chairs, Joint
Secretaries Nagaraj Naidu and Eenam Gambhir, formally opened the discussions
with an overview of the day’s agenda, outlining India’s priority areas and
setting context for the discussions within significant global setbacks to the
SDGs. The discussions covered India’s proposals, as well as the immediate
developmental impacts of current disruptions in food, energy and financial
markets.
During the break between discussions,
delegates enjoyed an exhibition of local Maharashtran handicrafts, which
included start-up businesses, and a pottery making stall.
The second half of Session 1 on Accelerating Progress on SDGs shifted focus to
the structural frameworks required for nations to fulfil commitments made in
the 2030 Agenda — including the need to enhance the ability and capacity of
developing countries to meet targets, creating momentum for ongoing work, and
creating new action plans wherever needed. India stressed the need for a
greater voice for developing countries in multilateral institutions and
processes, with a strong emphasis paid to facilitating effective consultations
across countries, groups, and tracks.
Presentations by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the cascading impacts of
gender discrimination, as well as the potential of just green transitions and
digital transformation, respectively, were made.
Federico Bonaglia of the OECD,
informed delegates that addressing gender discrimination will add $6 trillion
to the global GDP.
Moustapha Kamal Gueye from the ILO
demonstrated how climate change impacts the labour market, highlighting the
need for the world to align climate and development policies to ensure
sustained economic growth. He said, “tansitioning to a circular economy has the
potential to create 100 million green jobs by 2030.”
Countries also discussed existing frameworks, and bottlenecks, for accessing
sustainable finance, the need to strengthen efforts to achieve gender equality
through employment, education, and steps needed to bridge digital divides
globally.
India’s DWG co-chairs Nagaraj Naidu and Eenam Gambhir ended the two sessions by
summarising country interventions and thanking participating delegates for
their contributions and support towards our ambitious agenda.
The day closed with a dinner and cultural program on the lawn of Taj Land’s End
Hotel, where delegates experienced a taste of Mumbai’s world-famous Bollywood
film industry.