New Delhi, NFAPost: Varanasi is set to host a three-day meeting of development ministers from G20 member nations, starting this Sunday. The meeting will address various issues, including disruptions in global supply chains, challenges related to food and energy security, and the impacts of climate change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a special video address to kickstart the meeting, which will be chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Approximately 200 delegates are expected to attend the event, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
As the current chair of the G20, India is hosting the meeting, following the Voice of the Global South Summit held in January. The decisions made at the Varanasi meeting will contribute to the United Nations summit on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September, as stated by the MEA.
The MEA highlighted the pressing developmental challenges that will be addressed during the Varanasi meeting. These challenges include economic slowdown, debt distress, climate change impacts, increasing poverty and inequality, food and energy insecurity, global supply chain disruptions, as well as geopolitical conflicts and tensions.
The MEA emphasized that the G20 development ministerial meeting offers an opportunity to collectively agree on actions to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. It aims to foster synergies between the development, environment, and climate agendas while avoiding costly trade-offs that hinder progress for developing countries.
The meeting will consist of two main sessions: one focused on “Multilateralism: Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs” and another on “Green Development: A Life (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach.”
Before the development ministers’ meeting, the fourth and final development working group (DWG) meeting took place in Delhi from June 6 to 9. The DWG, building on the work of previous G20 presidencies, aims to enhance the G20’s contribution to accelerating progress towards SDGs and strengthening its long-term vision.
To provide delegates with a glimpse into the rich culture and traditions of Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest cities, cultural programs, exhibitions, and excursions have also been organized alongside the meeting.
