Pandemic has remodelled G20 priorities, unique opportunity to inject an inclusive and equitable agenda at the G20, says Shri Piyush Goyal

“AatmaNirbhar Bharat is not about closing India’s doors to the world; it’s actually opening the doors wider”: Shri Piyush Goyal

Shri Piyush Goyal addresses Inaugural Session of ICRIER's 13th Annual International G-20 Conference

The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal has said the pandemic has remodelled several G20 priorities. Addressing the Inaugural Session of the ICRIER's 13th Annual International G-20 Conference, Shri Goyal said we must keep rethinking, reimagining & and recreating our own processes and thinking to be an important stakeholder in a new world order.

Shri Goyal called for pursuing a more inclusive and equitable agenda at the G20.

“For the next few years, Developing Countries like ours will be leading the organization, Indonesia next year, followed by India. It is a unique opportunity for all of us to inject a more inclusive and equitable agenda at the G20. By acting in tandem in this “Decade of Action”, G20 will play a pivotal role to achieve all SDGs. We have to strengthen global institutions which are more representative & inclusive e.g. WTO, UNFCCC etc. We have to build synergies with like-minded partners to bring out a strong statement on Climate Action,” he said.

Shri Goyal said the leadership that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave through the pandemic is unparalleled in the world.

“Today the entire world understands that in this Interconnected and Interdependent World, no one is safe until everyone is safe. And towards that end a greater degree of global economic coordination is the need of the hour, we are all equally responsible to make that happen. It’s imperative to tackle this pandemic on the one hand, to ensure vaccination for everybody, - rich or poor, all countries, all citizens of the world and also serious research on finding a cure for Covid-19,” said Shri Goyal.

“India has, of course, shown out in its performance of tackling the pandemic smartly including the first phase where we prepared ourselves, we converted this crisis into an opportunity involving huge amount of new elements to our economic policy to the AatmaNirbhar Bharat packages, eg testing we ramped up from 2,500 to nearly 3 million per day; PPEs were being made Zero, we are now the world’s second largest manufacturer of PPEs, our ICU beds ramp up, our Oxygen ramp, the ramp up of training of skilled  manpower. On a variety of fronts India has shown the way,” he added.

Shri Goyal said the clarion call for becoming AatmaNirbhar given by Prime Minister Modi has truly transformed the way, the mindset of every Indian.

“An AatmaNirbhar Bharat is not about closing India’s doors to engagements with the world; it’s actually opening the doors wider, because where we are competitive we want leadership position in world trade, where we think we need to import we want liberal market access within India and reciprocated by other countries for all products so that we can expand trade on both sides and truly become an important stakeholder in global supply chains, a trusted partner and help in the recovery of the world, - the economic recovery, the social recovery and the health recovery of the world in the post-pandemic era,” he said.

Shri Goyal called upon the G20 to play a leadership role for People, Planet & Collective Prosperity.

“What we need is Faith in Ourselves, in our Abilities. G20 members must have a “Centric” approach i.e. Economic Progress must be employment Centric Policies, People Centric Cooperation, Community Centric,” he said.

The G20 is the international forum that brings together the world’s major economies. Its members account for more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of global trade and 60% of the population of the planet.

The forum has met every year since 1999 and includes, since 2008, a yearly Summit, with the participation of the respective Heads of State and Government.