India doing excellent job as G20 Chair: UK Minister

New Delhi, June 25 (HS): The British government is looking forward to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's travel to New Delhi for the G20 conference in September, according to a British politician. Sir John Whittingdale, the UK's Minister of State for Media, Tourism, and Creative Industries, who was in Goa for the G20 Tourism Ministerial Conference, which concluded on June 22, also stated India is doing a "fantastic job" as chair of the important bloc. On December 1, 2022, India assumed the G20 presidency. Around 200 meetings will be held around the nation under the bloc's several tracks, culminating in the September 9-10 Summit. When questioned about India's position as G20 chair, the UK minister lauded the country while also discussing some of the global difficulties that mankind as a whole faced.

"I think India is doing an excellent job. The sessions we've had here (in Goa) have been superbly planned. I know several of my other government colleagues have been attending meetings elsewhere. Of course, we're looking forward to our prime minister's visit to India later this year," Whittingdale said in an interview in Goa. According to him, Rishi Sunak would be in India for the G20 Summit.

The Conservative MP for Maldon attended the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting on June 21, which followed the G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in Goa from June 19-20. On the fringes of the two critical tourism track events in Panaji, India had multiple bilateral discussions with other G20 member and guest nations.

SY Naik, India's Minister of State for Tourism, also met with Whittingdale and described the discussion as a "good meeting." When asked about his experiences at the G20 Tourism Ministerial in Goa, Whittingdale replied, "It has been amazing. Goa is doing an excellent job hosting the G20 (meetings). On June 21, we had a really productive conversation regarding the issues that tourism faces. At the conclusion of the G20 ministerial conference, a Goa Roadmap and Action Plan, as well as a ministerial result paper, were released.

Officials claimed on June 21 that five interconnected major themes of the G20 tourism track, including green tourism, digitalization, and destination management, had been "endorsed by all G20 countries" for ensuring sustainable, resilient, and inclusive growth in the industry.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi