India's G20 presidency has led to several new initiatives, sources

New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The G20 presidency in India has led to many new initiatives and achievements. With the G20 summit scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10 in New Delhi under India's G20 presidency, there have been several initiatives which have been witnessed in the last 10 months.

India took the lead in the annual G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting by being the first to deliver a fully negotiated and embraced G20 Foreign Ministers Outcome Document and Chair Summary (FMM ODCS), sources said.

This comprehensive document highlighted critical themes relevant to member states, including the strengthening of multilateralism, countering terrorism, and addressing global health concerns, among others.

It was India's presidency that played host to the inaugural Voice of the Global South summit, they further said.

With participation from 125 countries across 10 sessions spanning two days, this landmark event provided a platform for participants to voice the concerns, ideas, challenges, and priorities of the developing world.

The G20 meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) during India's Presidency supported the launching of Millets And otHer Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (MAHARISHI), which is an endeavour to establish mechanisms to connect researchers and institutions, encourage information sharing and organise capacity-building activities, among other across the G20 countries, sources said.

The inception meeting of the G20 EMPOWER group was held under India's presidency. G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women's Economic Representation (EMPOWER) is an alliance of G20 business leaders and governments that aims to accelerate women's leadership and empowerment in the private sector, they further said.

After the G20 digital economy ministers' meeting, a consensus was reached upon creating the digital public infrastructures (DPIs).

Also, there was consensus around 'Cyber Security in the Digital Economy' and digital skills.

During the G20 presidency, the neeting of G20-Chief Science Advisers Roundtable (G20-CSAR) was also initiated, which deliberated on issues like 'Opportunities in One Health for better disease control and pandemic preparedness; Synergising Global Efforts to Expand Access to Scholarly Scientific Knowledge; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Science & Technology (S&T); and an Institutional Mechanism for Inclusive, Continuous and Action-Oriented Global S&T Policy Dialogue.

In an endeavour to reform and reinforce multilateralism, India also revitalised discussions surrounding reforms of International institutions including UN Security Council and multilateral development banks (MDBs).

It is during India's presidency that an independent expert group was established to provide recommendations for bolstering MDBs and improving its efficiency in confronting 21st-century challenges.