Experts from across the globe deliberate on development priorities proposed by India for G20 at the 2nd development working group meeting.
The second meeting of the Development Working Group (DWG) under India’s G20 Presidency kicked off on April 6th in Kumarakom, Kottayam district, Kerala. The four-day event is focused on the theme “Data for Development” and includes expert discussions from international organizations, academia, intellectuals, and civil society. More than 80 delegates from G20 member states, nine invited countries, and several international and regional organizations participated in the event. The first meeting of the Development Working Group took place in Mumbai in December 2022.
During the inaugural session, Nagaraj Naidu, Joint Secretary and Co-Chair of the Data Working Group at the G-20 Secretariat, emphasized the importance of reliable and accessible data in the public good, and outlined the need to use it effectively. Four panel discussions were organized on topics ranging from “Data for Development” to “Lifestyle for Environment and simply Green change.” The event also included a side event for the delegates on Data for Development, Lifestyle for Environment, and simply Green Change.
Over the next three days, detailed discussions will take place on various development priorities proposed by India, which are likely to be outlined in the Development Ministerial meeting scheduled for June. India’s DWG co-chairman K.K. Nagraj Naidu and Eenam Gambhir will also hold a series of bilateral discussions with their G20 counterparts and guests during the meeting.
A cultural program for the G20 delegates will also be organized on the sidelines of the meeting in collaboration with the Government of Kerala, providing them with a glimpse of Kerala’s unique heritage, diversity, and culinary experiences. The formal proceedings of the meeting will be inaugurated by Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, on April 7th.
