India's Sherpa to G20 Amitabh Kant addresses CII Southern Region Convention in Chennai

Chennai: India's Sherpa to G 20 Amitabh Kant has said that India has been steering the agenda for G 20 and has been successful in holding the meetings throughout the Country. Delivering his special address at the CII Southern Region convention in Chennai yesterday, he said that the participation of Southern states is very important in the country's economic growth. The Indian Sherpa said that the Country will have a 3.5 trillion dollar economy if the growth is pegged at 7 per cent. 

Explaining India's success story on digitalisation, he said that it was a total digital transformation during Covid which steered the country forward even when developed countries were having a challenge. Mr. Kant said that 800 million people benefitted through 600 schemes where it was a direct benefit transfer. 

Referring to G 20 he said that India has been pushing for inclusive resilient growth at any cost when one-third of the world is facing recession. He said that improvement in health education and infrastructure will be discussed in the G20 meeting led by leaders on September 9 and 10 this year.

Asserting that India was putting forth climate issues and reiterating the need to



restructure and redesign sustainable development goals and climate financing, Kant said that the developed countries had assured 100 billion dollars for climate change issues and have not lived up to it. 

He said that the world bank, IMF, and other international development organisations need to be redesigned to cater to emerging markets. He said that there has a hitch in understanding the issues faced by developing countries to achieve sustainable goals as perceived by developed countries. 

Mr. Amitabh Kant opined that the share of the developed world was coming down and countries like India, China, and African countries were on a path to growth because of the young demography.  He said that when developed countries wanted to discuss war-related issues, like food, fuel, and fertiliser, the global south wanted to discuss emerging markets, financial policy and developmental issues. 

He called for the industries to propel the manufacturing market and provide opportunities for SMEs which will produce products of international standards at affordable rates which will in turn benefit the Country's economy.