G20 Sherpa briefs media on G20 Development Working Group Meeting in Mumbai, Maharashtra from 13-16 December 2022
In connection with the first Development Working Group Meeting
in Mumbai from 13-16 December 2022, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant addressed media
persons today and outlined India’s DWG G20 priorities and approach. Since 2010,
the Development Working Group has been acting as a custodian of the development
agenda in the G20. After the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its Goals in 2015, DWG has steered the alignment of the
development agenda of the G20 with the SDGs. Given the nature of its work, the
DWG has dealt with several different issues over the last decade depending on
the priorities of the Presidency.
Kant emphasized that the challenges the world faces today can only be solved by
working together. Our priorities reflect not only the aspirations of G20
Members, but also of the Global South. India is pursuing an inclusive,
ambitious, decisive and action-oriented approach. Shri Kant outlined India's
DWG priorities as (i) Green Development including climate action and financing,
just energy transitions and LiFE (LifeStyle for Environment); (ii) Accelerating
implementation of SDGs; and (iii) Digital Public Goods/Data for Development. He
added that DWG conversations would also include debt distress, reformed
multilateralism and women-led development, and that India will highlight the
importance of inclusive growth and collective action to achieve it.
Kant recalled that a new workstream on Disaster Risk Reduction has been
established under India's Presidency to encourage collective work,
multi-disciplinary research and exchange of best practices on disaster risk
reduction. In addition, a new Startup20 Engagement Group has also been
initiated under India's G20 Presidency, recognizing the role of Startups in
driving innovation that responds to a rapidly changing global scenario.
The three-day meeting will focus on G20 collective
actions for accelerating progress on the SDGs, support to developing countries
in dealing with immediate concerns relating to food and energy security and
debt distress, and a 2023 G20 New Delhi Update on SDGs. Cultural programs
showcasing Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage have been arranged for the G20
delegates with the help of the State Government. Further, an excursion to
Kanheri Caves in Mumbai has also been planned for the visiting delegates.