G20 Development Ministers' Meeting held under G20 India Presidency

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G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting: The G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting is a gathering of ministers from the G20 member countries, along with invited guest countries and international organizations, to discuss and coordinate efforts related to development issues. G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency is also important for UPSC Prelims Exam and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- International Relations0.

G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting in News

the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting received an impactful address from the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, via video message. Welcoming the participants to Varanasi, the Prime Minister emphasized the historical and cultural significance of the city, which has been a center of knowledge, spirituality, and diverse heritage for centuries. He expressed his delight that the G20 Development agenda has reached this ancient city.

PM Modi Address at G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting

The Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the Global South, particularly the severe impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the food, fuel, and fertilizer crises exacerbated by geopolitical tensions.

Focus on SGDs

He stressed the collective responsibility to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not left behind. The Prime Minister urged the Global South to send a strong message to the world by formulating an action plan for achieving the SDGs.

Shri Modi emphasized the need for comprehensive, inclusive, fair, and sustainable efforts to fulfill the SDGs. He called for increased investment in achieving the goals and finding solutions to address the debt risks faced by many countries.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of reforming multilateral financial institutions to expand eligibility criteria and make finance accessible to those in need.
He shared India’s success in transforming over a hundred Aspirational Districts, which have now become catalysts of growth, suggesting that this model could be relevant in accelerating Agenda 2030.

Addressing the Data Divide

Addressing the growing data divide, the Prime Minister stressed the criticality of high-quality data for policy-making, resource allocation, and public service delivery. He emphasized the democratization of technology as a tool to bridge the data divide.

India’s digitalization efforts have empowered people, made data accessible, and ensured inclusivity, and the Prime Minister expressed India’s willingness to share its experiences with partner countries.

Mission LiFE

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s reverence for nature and its commitment to a pro-planet lifestyle. He mentioned the launch of Mission LiFE, a collaborative initiative with the UN Secretary-General to develop a set of High-Level Principles, which will significantly contribute to climate action.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment

Gender equality and women’s empowerment were emphasized as essential for achieving the SDGs. The Prime Minister noted that India’s focus extends beyond women’s empowerment to women-led development. Women are seen as agents of growth and change, setting the agenda for development. The Prime Minister called for the adoption of a game-changing Action Plan for Women-led Development.

G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting

The Varanasi Development Ministers’ Meeting is being convened at a time when developmental challenges are becoming increasingly complex and compounded by various factors such as economic slowdown, debt distress, climate change impacts, pollution, biodiversity loss, poverty, inequality, food and energy insecurity, cost-of-living crisis, global supply-chain disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts.

Background: The meeting builds upon the Voice of the Global South Summit hosted by India in January 2023.
Mandate: G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting aims to avoid costly trade-offs that impede progress for developing countries.
Participation: The meeting anticipates the participation of approximately 200 delegates who will contribute their insights and expertise to address the pressing developmental issues and pave the way for inclusive and sustainable global progress.
Sessions: The meeting agenda comprises two main sessions.
- The first session focuses on “Multilateralism: Collective Actions for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs,” emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts.
- The second session revolves around “Green Development: A LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach,” underscoring sustainable practices.
Importance: The decisions taken at the Varanasi meeting will contribute to the United Nations SDG Summit scheduled for September in New York.

G20 Development Ministerial meeting Significance

This G20 Development Ministerial meeting presents a significant opportunity for collective action to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and foster synergies between the development, environment, and climate agendas.

Prior to the Development Ministers’ Meeting, the fourth and final Development Working Group (DWG) Meeting took place in Delhi from June 6-9.
The DWG has been instrumental in enhancing the G20’s contribution to expediting progress towards the SDGs and strengthening the G20’s long-term vision for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic growth.
In addition to the formal proceedings, the delegates have the opportunity to engage in cultural programs, exhibitions, and excursions, enabling them to experience the rich heritage and traditions of Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest cities.

India’s G20 Presidency 2023

G20 Presidency: India assumed, for the first time, the Group of 20 (G20) year-long presidency from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. India’s G20 Presidency will culminate with the G20 Summit in India in 2023 (G20 2023 Summit).

G20 Presidency 2023: India inherited the G20 Presidency for the year 2023 from Indonesia which was the previous G20 Chair.
Significance: The G20 Presidency offers a unique opportunity to India to contribute to the global agenda on pressing issues of international importance.
- During its G20 presidency, India will hold about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across the country.
G20 theme: India’s G20 Presidency Theme is “Vasudhaiva Kutumba-kam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”.
G20 Logo: The symbol of the lotus in the G20 logo is a representation of hope in this time. No matter how adverse the circumstances, the lotus still blooms.
- Shared prosperity that reaches the last person at the last mile. This is why, in the G20 logo, the Earth is placed on a lotus too.