The second G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to take place in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 28th and 29th March 2023. Around 63 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries and international organisations will participate in the meeting to further the discussions on the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency and follow up on the discussions held during the first IWG meeting held in Pune in January 2023.
The G20 Infrastructure Working Group deliberates on various aspects of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset class, promoting quality infrastructure investment, and identifying innovative instruments for mobilizing financial resources for infrastructure investment. The outcomes of the Infrastructure Working Group feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote Infrastructure Development.
The Indian G20 Presidency’s theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ sets the tone for the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the 2023 Indian G-20 Presidency. The theme underlines the message of equitable growth and aptly ties up with the discussions’ central agenda, which is building resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban infrastructure.
In the second IWG meeting, discussions will focus on the agenda for the Infrastructure Working Group under the Indian Presidency. The flagship priority to be discussed in this meeting is “Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable”, along with other priorities outlined in the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda.
During the two-day meeting, various official meetings and cultural programmes have been planned for the delegates. In addition to the formal discussions, the delegates will experience Vishakhapatnam’s rich culture and beautiful landscapes. The Presidency has also arranged an excursion for the delegates on the afternoon of 27th March.
On the sidelines of the IWG meetings, a side event, “Roundtable of International Organizations to discuss Infrastructure Taxonomies”, is also being organized in partnership with the Global Infrastructure Hub. The side event will witness participation of experts from key International Organizations such as UNDP, OECD, IMF, ADB and EBRD.
The delegates will also be hosted for “Ratri Bhoj Par Samvad’ (Conversation over Dinner) to provide an opportunity to enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh and relish the local cuisines.
Media Briefing G20 2nd Infrastructure Working Group Meeting
On 29th March, a ‘health retreat’ is being organised for the delegates on the beachfront. During the retreat, the delegates will be introduced to yoga, meditation and sattvic food.
A Capacity Building Workshop for the G20 delegates will follow the two-day meetings on 30th March. During the workshop, international experts from Korea and Singapore will discuss the international best practices of urban infrastructure financing.
The G20 meeting was also preceded by various Jan- Bhagidari initiatives, like model G20 sessions in schools, G20 Marathon and a two-day regional workshop on ‘How cities can leverage private finance’, was jointly organised by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs, and International Finance Corporation, on the 22nd and 23rd March. The workshop was attended by over 70 participants, including municipal commissioners, mayors, and representatives from urban state departments from the states of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha and two Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
The Ministry of Finance will steer the G20 Infrastructure agenda to ensure that the G-20 acts as a global prime mover to envision new ideas and accelerate collective action.
