Significant: J&K to host G-20 process meetings

Avinav Verma
Jammu: In a clear departure from hosting the international event in the union capital and for the first time in history the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is all set to organise G-20 process meeting in Jammu and Kashmir in coming winters.
The G20 is an intra-governmental forum consisting of 19 countries and the European Union. India is at present part of the G20 troika along with Italy and Indonesia and will be assuming the presidency of G20 countries from December 1, 2022, and will convene the G20 Leaders' Summit for the first time in India in 2023.
Among various states, Jammu and Kashmir is being considered one of the potential venues to host process meetings as the country would host around 180 meetings of different working groups, engagement groups and seminars, in which the delegates from 20 countries would participate.
In this regard, the Jammu and Kashmir has constituted a panel lead by Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Dheeraj Gupta for the overall coordination of G020 meetings.
“Gupta is also nominated as Nodal officer to coordinate the arrangement for the scheduled meetings in the Union Territory,” an official told The News Now.
Commenting on the development, a foreign affairs expert told The News Now that this meeting assumes significance at both international and national level.
“For first time and since inception of G-20, the event will put Jammu and Kashmir on a higher pedestal by hosting such international event,” he said
“Since Independence the successive governments had been cagy to bring Jammu and Kashmir in the lime light,” an expert said.
However, with changing foreign polices after PM took over India’s Prime Minister 8 years back the GOI has taken proactive steps to transform its dynamics at international level.
He further committed that union government has also adopted a policy to host international events across the country and away from traditional venue New Delhi.
He added that as a result of the policy the union government selected J&K to address Panchayat Representatives of country, for the time first CRPF’s raisin day was observed in the Union Territory, similarly PM Modi led international yoga day from Mysru.
The countries in the forum include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the USA.