The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is getting a facelift—in patches. Some aspects of Srinagar’s ongoing smart city project have been tweaked, with contracts reworked and deadlines pushed back by a month or two in order to complete them in time for an official-level meeting of G20 cultural ministries in the fourth week of May. The three-day event’s dates have yet to be announced.
Table of Contents
India’s role in the G20 over the years
India’s involvement with the G20 began in 1999 when the G20 was formed as a forum for the world’s major economies to discuss global economic issues. India, being one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a major player in the South Asian region, was invited to join the G20 in 2008. Since then, India has been an active participant in the G20 meetings, which are held annually, and has contributed to discussions on a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, finance, and development.
India has consistently pushed for greater representation of developing countries in the G20, advocating for reforms in global economic governance that would make it more inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing countries. India has also emphasized the importance of sustainable development and has worked to promote initiatives that support renewable energy and climate change mitigation.
In recent years, India has used its position in the G20 to advocate for greater cooperation among member states in areas such as cybersecurity, digital governance, and health security, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, India’s engagement with the G20 has been an important aspect of its foreign policy and has allowed it to play a larger role in shaping the global economic agenda
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India chooses Kashmir despite China and Pakistan objection
The Kashmir Valley is set to host the third G20 tourism working group meeting, organized under India’s presidency, from May 22 to 24. Foreign delegates will gather in Srinagar for the three-day event, which will also include a sightseeing tour to the picturesque ski resort of Gulmarg. The meeting, which aims to promote the country’s film-shoot offerings, with a focus on offering foreign crews facilities such as single-window clearance, is the first major international event in Jammu and Kashmir since its statehood was reorganized in August 2019.
The first two tourism working group meetings, held in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Siliguri in West Bengal, respectively, focused on rural, archaeological, and adventure tourism. Discussions regarding green tourism, adopted unanimously by participating countries, are set to continue during the Srinagar event, and will culminate in the issuance of the “Goa Roadmap,”
The meetings are part of a larger effort to showcase the vastness of India and promote its tourism industry in different parts of the country. While officials have taken security measures and made arrangements for the event, India’s special invitee guest countries will include Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and UAE, in addition to the G20 member countries.
Conclusion
In choosing Srinagar as the location for the G20 cultural ministries meeting, India has ignored objections from China and Pakistan. Despite ongoing tensions in the region, the Indian government is moving ahead with plans to showcase the country’s film-shoot offerings and promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. India has been an active participant in the G20 since 2008 and has used its position to advocate for greater representation of developing countries and promote sustainable development. By hosting the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar, India is continuing its efforts to promote tourism in different parts of the country and showcase its vastness to the world.
