The Indian government plans to commence its diplomatic calendar with a series of cultural initiatives as soon as it assumes the presidency of the G20 on December 1. There will be an interaction with 75 educational institutions, illumination of 100 monuments with the G20 logo, presentation of the G20 at the Hornbill festival in Nagaland, and etching of the logo of the G20 on Puri beach by sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, among other activities.
According to sources, India is preparing to host more than 200 meetings across the country at more than 50 locations. Meetings at the ministerial level and those at the official and non-governmental levels will occur between December 1, 2022, and November 30, 2023. The G20 leaders’ summit will be held in New Delhi, India, on September 9 and 10, 2023.
AN EXPLAINATION
All eyes are on the big-ticket event.
It will be the first international event at the highest level to take place in India, attended by the leaders of the world’s leading economies. If the meetings are held in J&K and the N-E, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, it will be interesting to see the reaction of some members.
According to sources, meetings will take place across the country in the run-up to the summit. It is expected that some of these events will take place in conjunction with festivals in those states and regions – such as Gujarat’s kite festival.
According to sources, J&K will be included in the venue list; however, Arunachal Pradesh has not yet been confirmed. Under Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision of connecting all districts and blocks with G20 through Jan Bhagidari – or people’s participation – initiatives, the meetings will take place in remote parts of the country.
A gift of local products will be given to G20 delegates as part of the government’s initiative to showcase the ‘One District One Product’ initiative. These G20 meetings will provide an opportunity to promote products renowned in those specific regions and districts. Youth will be involved through quiz contests, talks, cultural programs, and competitions centred on the G20 summit and its themes. One idea is to hold selfie contests with the G20 logo across India’s iconic monuments and use social media platforms to promote the contests.
According to sources, the government plans to promote India’s initiatives via social media platforms, including Koo, an indigenous platform.
