Will South Asian region be benefitted from India’s G20 Presidency?

India, which is one of the fastest-growing economies in the globe, finally got the opportunity to execute its global vision and grand strategy, and secondly, the South Asian region is going to get benefits through India’s leadership in G-20.

India assumed the G20 Presidency from Indonesia on December 1st and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the level of Heads of State / Government on 09 and 10 September 2023 in New Delhi. India holds the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. 

It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. India will host over 200 meetings in over50 cities across 32 different work streams and would have the opportunity to offer G20 delegates and guests a glimpse of India's rich cultural heritage and provide them with a unique Indian experience. India’s G20 Presidency would be a watershed moment in her history as it seeks to play an important role by finding pragmatic global solutions for the wellbeing of all, and in doing so, manifest the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or the ‘World is One Family’. 

India’s strategy of inclusiveness and multilateral diplomacy will be put to the test during its G20 presidency. India’s stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine has also raised many eyebrows in the EU and various western countries. 
Moreover, there is no doubt that India's G20Presidency will give the South Asian region, especially Sri Lanka a great opportunity to get out of its economic crisis.

The opportunities available to Sri Lanka, as a neighbouring country of India, to engage with the work of the G20 were recently discussed between Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda and Chief Coordinator for India’s G20 Presidency for 2023, Harsh Vardhan Shringla. 

The duo met in New Delhi and discussed the avenues through which Sri Lanka could engage with the G20 during India’s presidency of the Group. The discussion also focused on the possibility of understanding the G20 approach towards international financial cooperation and debt restructuring. 
Farjana Sharmin, Doctoral Candidate, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, South Asian University, and New Delhi said that India can do a lot for South Asia before the next summit. “But the most challenging aspect before India will be to utilize the G-20 platform to address geopolitical security issues and narrow the gap between member states. India could play a decisive role in solving the post-pandemic economic crisis,” Sharmin said. 

Sharmin pointed out how small states have lost faith in global governance and order due to sovereignty threats from big powers and developed countries’ domination in setting economic rules. “These issues have long-term effects on the Global South. So, India is a hope for many global south countries and it should include the opinions of least developed countries and facilitate the opportunity for those countries which are not direct members of G-20,” she added.

As president of the G20, India can play a leading role in shaping debates on issues that are increasingly becoming important for development and growth. Economic stability, climate change, the pursuit of SDG's 2030 goals, energy and health security, food, fertilisers and fuel security are the issues that are more relevant to the South Asia region are discussed.
 
The ongoing Ukraine-Russia war has badly hit the economy all across the continents and politically the nations are more divided than before. India, is currently, in the midst of geo-political and geo-economic transitions which has no prediction. This is creating friction between the States over the issues, seemingly with no resolution in sight. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the poor health infrastructure of the region as governments could not cope with a health emergency of this magnitude. Universal health care is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations which the G20also promotes. The report entitled Tracking the Universal Health Coverage published by the World Health Organisation in 2021 shows that South Asian countries are much behind in providing health services to their citizens.

India will seek to provide a voice to the global south, and also push agendas that affect the developing countries. Reforming international institutions, health, education, gender, climate and environment are issues that are very close to its heart. 
These are also some of the issues that affect the region. Since India's foreign policy has always highlighted its neighbourhood first policy, it must use its G20 presidency to push forward agendas keeping the larger interest of the region in mind altogether we shall grow. 

During its G-20 Presidency, India, as the global leader, can showcase and help other developing nations build on education, trade, technology, and the economy, with blended learning and collaboration. India has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its acclaimed potential as the world leader in this space at this moment.