NEW DELHI: Harshvardhan Shringla, India’s Foreign secretary has been appointed as the Chief Coordinator for the G20. He will assume the responsibility after his retirement on April 30. Shringla served as the Ambassador to the United States of America, and High Commissioner to Bangladesh, prior to taking up the role of Foreign Secretary.
India will assume the G20 presidency in 2023 for the first time. The high-level event will take place at New Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Besides, organising the Leaders’ Summit, New Delhi will set an agenda for G20. Union Commerce minister Piyush Goyal will continue to be the Sherpa for G20.
Started in 1999, G20 is a strategic multilateral platform which brings together developed and emerging economies of the world. The G20 members represent more than 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of international trade and 60 percent of the world population, the organisation claims. The member states of the organisation include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Recently, Spain was extended an invitation to be a permanent guest at G20.