The G20 consists of 19 countries and the European Union
New Delhi:
India will showcase its digital transformation, its long and vibrant democratic traditions, its artistic splendor and its culinary diversity, including street food, at the G20 summit next month, where member states’ leaders and guests will attend a gala dinner on 9 September.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Muktesh Pardeshi, Special Secretary and Chief of Operations and Logistics of India’s G20 Secretariat, spoke about the preparations and also some of the programs, including the symbolic tree plantation event at the Bharat Mandapam during the summit, where saplings different countries.
He said there will be a crafts bazaar featuring crafts from various states and union territories.
Pardeshi said there will be a separate program for the spouses who mentor the leaders. The G20 summit will be held in the national capital on September 9 and 10.
“On September 9, there will be a gala dinner…we will have a craft bazar, showcasing crafts from various states and universities…which will be open as an exhibition and shopping experience…we will have a a separate program for the spouses accompanying the leaders. They will be taken to Rajghat and visit the Pusa Institute. As part of the program, they will probably visit the National Gallery of Modern Art,” he said.
Mr Pardeshi said three sessions will take place during the summit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also have bilateral meetings with some leaders.
“We are moving towards the culmination of the G20 process, which began on December 1 last year. The summit will take place on 9th and 10th September, there will be three sessions…some of the leaders will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi…the leaders of the delegations will visit Rajghat and pay respect to the father of the nation…there a symbolic tree plantation event will take place in the Bharat Mandapam, these saplings will represent different countries,” he said.
The senior official said there will be about 40 leadership-level delegations, a variety of dishes will be served, and millet will have a prominent place on the table.
He said that chefs are working to develop different types of regional cuisines and the aim is to give delegates experience of different regional cuisines of India.
“From the Government of India, we will provide meals at the convention center… a variety of dishes will be served, but millet will feature prominently on the menu… chefs are working to develop different types of regional cuisines The general philosophy is that we should get acquainted with street food from India, millet and delegates should also experience different regional cuisines of India, he said.
The G20 consists of 19 countries, and the European Union and India have sent special invitations to nine countries.
“About more than 40 delegations will arrive at the leadership level. So we will have presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and top officials from different delegations representing different countries… we are preparing, we are finalizing the program. ” he said.
Mr Pardeshi said an exhibition called ‘Bharat, the Mother of Democracy’ is being organized to show the roots of democracy in India.
“There is another aspect of presenting India. Not many people know the democratic roots or democracy as a concept, as participatory governance. Its roots are here and thousands of years ago there were the concepts of Sabha and Samiti. So democracy is It doesn’t come from outside. It has developed over time on Indian soil. So there will be an exhibition called Bharat, the Mother of Democracy,’ he said.
The official added that an experience panel has been created where delegates can experience how UPI payments are made and how India leads the digital payments industry.
Prime Minister Modi had said that the G20 summit hosted by India will see the largest participation and that the country has made the G20 an inclusive forum during his presidency.
He said that the African Union has also joined the G-20 at the invitation of India and the voice of the African people has reached this important platform of the world.
He also said that India’s digital transformation is driven by its unwavering belief in innovation and its commitment to rapid implementation.
The 18th Summit of G20 Heads of State and Government in New Delhi will be the culmination of all G20 processes and meetings taking place throughout the year among ministers, senior officials and civil society organisations. A G20 Leaders’ Declaration will be adopted at the end of the New Delhi Summit, capturing the leaders’ commitment to the priorities discussed and agreed at the respective ministerial and working group meetings.
About 200 meetings related to the G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
