G20 officials to meet in Varanasi on March 28-29

India will host the third meeting of the G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) in Varanasi from March 28 to discuss challenges before the global economy and their possible solutions.

More than 100 high-level officials from G20 member and invitee countries, as well as international organisations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Labour Organization (ILO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will take part in the meeting.

This is the first time that such a meeting is taking place outside the national capital.

The FYG is a core working group within the G20. Its main mandate is to deliberate on the challenges facing the global economy and the policy options that countries can use to address these challenges.

India, along with Canada, has been co-chairing this group and the chief economic advisor of India holds the role of the Indian co-chair.

“In a meeting with senior officials of the ministry of finance, we discussed preparations for the G20 meet scheduled on March 28 and 29,” district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra said.

Union secretary of economic affairs Shaktikanta Das will inaugurate the meeting as the chief guest.The delegates will also watch the Ganga aarti and take a tour of the holy city.

Group of 20 (G20) is one of the major multilateral forums of the global economy involved in ensuring policy coordination among the major global economic players. India has been a member of this forum since its inception. Currently, the G20 presidency is with Germany.

The G20 members include India, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and the European Union (EU).