Here's how India is preparing for G20 Presidency beginning December 1

New Delhi: At the end of the G20 meeting in Bali on November 16, one of the highlights was the Indonesian President Joko Widodo handing over the gong/honour of the G20 Presidency to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi wearing his traditional full sleeves spotless white kurta supported by a sea blue Modi jacket, proudly took the gong in his right hand and waved it smilingly. He reflected on India's strength and assured a result-oriented year ahead amid echoing ovation. 

In a one-on-one meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, several world leaders assured their support and looked forward to attending the working sessions with great expectations. 

India will assume the Presidency and host country of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.

India will convene the G20 Leaders' Summit for the first time in the country on September 9-10, 2023. The G20 Leaders' Summit has become one of the most prestigious multilateral platforms attended by Heads of State / Government.

In addition, India is expected to host over 200 G20 group working meetings across the country, beginning in December 2022 in different States of India. 

The central government has asked several states in India to spice up preparations with complete attention and exhibit local culture and traditions for holding the G20 meetings, which automatically will increase the footprint of tourism in India.

Tentatively 55 venues have been approved in several states across India. The venue will include several States and Union territories, including the North East States. 

Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy on Thursday stated during his address in the inaugural session of the 10th ITM for the North East Region on Aizawl that among the G20 member countries, China, Mexico, India, South Africa and Indonesia are projected to expand their tourism industry post-COVID.

"With our presidency, we definitely can stride ahead of these 4-5 countries to build the rightful place of India's tourism industry in the global arena. We must plan to showcase our North Eastern Cultural Richness while welcoming the world to our country," said Reddy.

India's G20 Presidency would be a watershed moment in her history as it seeks to play an essential role by finding pragmatic global solutions for the wellbeing of all, and in doing so, manifest the true spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', or the 'World is One Family.

The G20, or Group of Twenty, is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, USA) and the European Union (EU). 

Collectively, the G20 accounts for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade and two-thirds of the world population, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation. 

International Organizations consist of (the UN, IMF, World Bank, WHO, WTO, ILO, FSB and OECD) and the Chairs of Regional Organizations (AU, AUDA-NEPAD and ASEAN).

India, Indonesia and Brazil would form the troika. It would be the first time the troika would consist of three developing countries and emerging economies, providing them with a more extraordinary voice.

The G20 currently comprises:

Finance Track, with eight workstreams (Global Macroeconomic Policies, Infrastructure Financing, International Financial Architecture, Sustainable Finance, Financial Inclusion, Health Finance, International Taxation, and Financial Sector Reforms)

Sherpa Track, with 12 workstreams (Anti-corruption, Agriculture, Culture, Development, Digital Economy, Employment, Environment and Climate, Education, Energy Transition, Health, Trade and Investment, Tourism)

10 Engagement Groups of private sector/civil society/independent bodies (Business 20, Civil 20, Labour 20, Parliament 20, Science 20, Supreme Audit Institutions 20, Think 20, Urban 20, Women 20 and Youth 20).

Guest countries

In addition to G20 Members, there has been a tradition of the G20 Presidency inviting some Guest countries and International Organizations (IOs) to its G20 meetings and summits. 

India, as G20 Presidency, will be inviting Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE as Guest countries, as well as ISA (International Solar Alliance), CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) and ADB (Asian Development Bank) as Guest International Organisations.

Two hundred meetings of G20 to be held in India will be inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth; LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment); women's empowerment; digital public infrastructure and tech-enabled development in areas ranging from health, agriculture and education.

The other issues will be commerce, skill-mapping, culture and tourism; climate financing; circular economy; global food security; energy security; green hydrogen; disaster risk reduction and resilience; developmental cooperation; fight against economic crime; and multilateral reforms.

G20 was established in September 1999 as a forum of the Finance Ministers and the Central Bank Governors of the 19 major economies and the EU in the aftermath of the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and elevated to Head of State's forum in 2008 at the initiative of the then US President Bush in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis.