1. The fourth meeting of the G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) begins in Varanasi
Tags: Summits
The 4th G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting begins in Varanasi and will end with the Culture Ministers' meeting on August 26, 2023.
An Overview of the News
Representatives of G20 member states will attend the event, inviting countries and international organizations.
Building on the successes of the previous meetings in Khajuraho, Bhubaneshwar, and Hampi, the Varanasi CWG meeting from August 23 to 25, 2023 aims to generate actionable outcomes by keeping culture at the core of policymaking.
The "G20 Culture: Shaping the Global Narrative for Inclusive Growth" report, a compilation of insights and recommendations from expert-driven global thematic webinars, will be launched during the Culture Ministers' Meeting.
The Varanasi Culture Ministers’ Meeting intends to prompt collective efforts to advance the four priority areas outlined by the Indian Presidency: Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property, Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future, Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy, and Leveraging Digital Technologies for Culture's Protection and Promotion.
CWG launched the campaign 'Culture unites all' under India's G20 presidency, symbolizing India's commitment to peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures. A unique postage stamp to commemorate this campaign will be unveiled on August 26, 2023.
The G20 Global Orchestra's performance, titled "Sur Vasudha", will celebrate the musical heritage of the G20 member states and invitees.
The G20 Culture Ministers' meeting was convened for the first time in 2020 during the Saudi Arabian Presidency. In 2021, the Italian Presidency formalized the Culture Working Group, leading to the inaugural G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting and the 'Declaration of the Rome Ministers of Culture'. The 'Bali Declaration' of 2022 under the Indonesian presidency further emphasized the role of culture in sustainable development.
2. India to host 5th World Coffee Summit in Bengaluru for the first time
Tags: Summits
India is all set to host the 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) for the first time from 25-28 September 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. During the event, tennis player Rohan Bopanna will serve as the brand ambassador.
An Overview of the News
The theme of the World Coffee Summit 2023 is "Sustainability through circular economy and regenerative agriculture".
The conference will bring together growers, farmers, roasters, exporters, policy makers and researchers from over 80 countries to discuss important topics related to the global coffee sector.
About International Coffee Organization (ICO)
The International Coffee Organization (ICO), established in 1963 under the auspices of the United Nations following the ratification of the first International Coffee Agreement in 1962, is the organising body behind the World Coffee Conference.
ICO is headquartered in the UK, and currently has 75 member countries and top-level experts working towards building a circular coffee economy, promoting regenerative agriculture, promoting sustainability through consumption and increasing access to finance. work in
The World Coffee Conference is a high-level event held every four to five years, previously held in the United Kingdom (2001), Brazil (2005), Guatemala (2010) and Ethiopia (2016).
Its main goal is to facilitate discussion on important issues affecting the global coffee industry.
3. Union Minister launches Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Alliance in Chennai
Tags: Summits
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav launched the Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) during the 4th G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers' Meeting in Chennai.
An Overview of the News
The official launch included the signing of the Basic Charter and the unveiling of the alliance's logo.
The minister acknowledged the commitment of the 39 founding members of RECEIC to join this alliance.
The alliance, envisioned by India's G20 Presidency, is envisaged to be industry-driven and self-reliant even beyond India's G20 Presidency.
RECEIC's mission is to foster company-to-company collaboration and build advanced capabilities across diverse sectors and value chains, and to bring together the global experiences of alliance members to enhance resource efficiency and accelerate the circular economy transition.
RECEIC is structured around three guiding pillars: partnerships for impact, technology collaboration and finance for scale.
The Alliance aims to contribute to progress on key global goals and priorities set by the G20 and other international fora.
RECEIC will act as a comprehensive platform that will enable industries to address information gaps and coordination challenges among G20 members.
The objective of the meeting was to formulate an action plan and direct collaborative efforts towards developing effective strategies and initiatives for a sustainable future and combating climate change.
4. G20 Empower Summit begins in Gandhinagar
Tags: Summits
On 1 August, the G20 Empower Summit under India's G20 Presidency began in Gandhinagar.
An Overview of the News
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani will inaugurate the summit.
The theme of the two-day conference is "Women-led development: ensuring sustainable, inclusive and equitable global economic growth".
In the inaugural session, Smriti Irani will launch the G20 Empower Digital Inclusion platform, which aims to bridge the gender digital divide by providing digital skills and knowledge to women.
Several other key outcomes under the G20 Empower agenda will also be unveiled, including the adoption of the Best Practices Playbook and the G20 Empower Communicate.
The summit will host various sessions, each focusing on different aspects of women empowerment.
It will see the participation of a large number of delegates including global experts, policy makers and stakeholders from G20 countries, invited countries and international organisations.
The G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Advancement of Women's Economic Progress is a private sector-led initiative under the Sherpa Track of the G20.
About the G20
It is an international forum of the world's leading economies established in 1999.
Its primary objective is to promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth.
The G20 serves as a forum to discuss and coordinate policies related to a wide range of economic and financial issues such as trade, investment, employment, energy and climate change.
5. 5th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit
Tags: Summits
The 5th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit will be held on 25 July 2023 at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
An Overview of the News
The event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Pawan Hans Limited and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The summit will be inaugurated by Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Shri Jyotiraditya M.Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel.
The objective of the event is to foster collaboration between industry stakeholders and policy makers, so that effective decisions can be taken that will further boost India's civil aviation industry.
Theme:
The theme of the summit is "Reaching the last mile: Regional connectivity through helicopters and small aircraft".
Objective:
The objective of the summit is to provide a platform to industry stakeholders and policy makers to discuss the development of the Indian helicopter and small aircraft industry.
One of the major objectives is to increase the coverage of UDAN schemes in remote and hilly areas with a focus on expanding rural-to-urban connectivity.
The event also aims to improve helicopter and small aircraft connectivity to existing and potential tourism hotspots and ensure seamless services.
Roles of helicopters and small aircraft:
Helicopters and small aircraft play a vital role in India's transport ecosystem, providing better access to remote areas and supporting tourism, emergency medical services and disaster management.
Advantages of small planes:
Small aircraft provide efficient transportation options for business and leisure travellers, promoting regional air connectivity and encouraging the exploration of lesser-known destinations.
About Madhya Pradesh
It is the second largest state of India by area after Rajasthan.
Governor -Mangubhai Patel
Chief Minister -Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Capital - Bhopal
6. India and ASEAN Conference on Traditional Medicines in New Delhi
Tags: Summits
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The Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Mission in ASEAN organized a conference of India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Traditional Medicines in New Delhi on 20 July 2023.
An Overview of the news:
- Re-held a decade later, the conference pledged to strengthen sustainable and resilient health care systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage.
A total of 75 delegates included:
- A total of 75 delegates from India and ASEAN including two ASEAN countries participated in the conference through virtual mode.
- The Conference on Traditional Medicine between India and ASEAN countries provides a platform to deliberate on various dimensions of traditional systems of medicine to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and strategize on ways and means to take forward traditional systems of medicine.
Emphasis on Act East Policy:
- India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 'Act East Policy' at the 12th ASEAN India Summit in Myanmar in November 2014, giving a new impetus to the strategic partnership. The Act-East policy emphasizes connectivity, commerce and culture.
- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Cao Kim Horn highlighted three key points that reflect the synergy between ASEAN and India, covering various aspects, including cooperation on public health through traditional and complementary medicines.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):
- It was established to accelerate economic development, social progress and cultural development for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian countries.
- Origin: Established in 1967 with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).
- ASEAN Day: 8 August.
- Founding countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
- Motto: 'One Vision, One Identity, One Community'.
- Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Member States: 10 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia).
- India and ASEAN celebrated the 30th anniversary of their dialogue relations.
7. G-20 Global Food Regulatory Summit 2023 for the first time in India
Tags: Summits
The Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 is being held in Delhi for the first time as a G-20 event. The summit is being held outside Rome, Italy for the first time.
An Overview of the news:
- The conference is being organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on July 20 and 21, 2023 at Manekshaw Auditorium, New Delhi.
- Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the logo of the summit on 17 July.
Objective:
- To provide a valuable platform to the summit participants to deliberate on food safety and regulatory aspects in a cohesive network.
Conference participants:
- The Global Food Regulators Summit will focus on the important aspect of food safety, which needs as much attention as food security itself.
- The summit will serve as a platform for food regulators from over 40 countries to collaborate and work together.
- Representatives of 30 international organizations and 25 international research institutes/universities will also participate in the event.
- Active participation of various stakeholders representing various countries, international organizations and national institutions is expected in the summit.
- Food regulators of G-20 member countries will participate in the summit and show their commitment to improve food safety systems and regulatory framework.
Main Initiatives of the Conference:
- The summit also included the release of Food-O-Copaia. It is a comprehensive collection of food category-wise monographs, which serves as a single-point reference for all applicable standards for specific product categories.
- A notable initiative is the common regulatory platform 'Sangrah' (Safe Food for Nations: Global Food Regulatory Authority Handbook). It is a comprehensive database of food regulatory authorities from 76 countries around the world. The collection is available in a total of eight Indian languages.
8. Third Sherpa G20 meeting begins in Hampi, Karnataka
Tags: Summits
The 3rd Sherpa meeting of G20 under the chairmanship of India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant began on 13 July 2023 in Hampi, Karnataka.
An Overview of the News
The meeting will last for three days on the banks of the Tungabhadra river near Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The main objective of the meeting is to collaborate on the drafting of the Leaders' Declaration, which will be adopted by the G20 leaders at the New Delhi Summit.
Key issues on the agenda include green growth, climate finance, promoting eco-friendly lifestyles, inclusive and resilient growth, sustainable development goals, technological change, digital public infrastructure, multilateral institutions for the 21st century and women-led development Are.
Over 120 delegates from G20 member states, invitees and international organisations, led by the G20 Sherpa of India, will participate in the talks to finalize the text representing the priorities of the presidency.
Delegates will have the opportunity to explore the fascinating landscape of Hampi including its monuments, boulders and waterways, which were developed during the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1646 AD.
About Karnataka
It is a state in southwest India and is bordered by Maharashtra to the north, Goa to the northwest, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest.
Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is known as the "Silicon Valley of India" and is a major center of technology and innovation.
Kannada is the official language of Karnataka.
Chief Minister - Siddaramaiah
Governor - Thawar Chand Gehlot
Official Animal - Indian Elephant
Official Bird - Indian Roller
Official Dance - Yakshagana
Official Song - Jaya Bharat Jananiya Tanujate
9. India to host ASEAN countries conference on traditional medicines
Tags: Summits
The Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Mission to ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat, is organizing a Conference on Traditional Medicines for ASEAN Countries on 20th July, 2023.
An Overview of the News
The aim of the conference is to strengthen cooperation and knowledge sharing between India and ASEAN countries in the field of traditional medicines.
The "Act East Policy" launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new impetus to the strategic partnership between India and ASEAN.
Growth and Achievements of Ministry of AYUSH:
The Ministry of AYUSH has seen significant growth since it became an independent ministry in 2014.
Collaboration with international organizations and national institutions has allowed high-quality research on AYUSH systems in various health conditions, including non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, mental health, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
The ASEAN conference will serve as a platform for sharing research results and experiences in the field of traditional medicine.
Conference Goals:
To facilitate exchange of best practices and recent developments in the regulatory framework for the promotion of traditional medicine in ASEAN member countries.
Strengthening international cooperation in AYUSH through collaboration and establishment of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASEAN countries and other countries.
Participant Details:
A total of 75 participants will participate in the conference, including international delegates from eight ASEAN countries and two international delegates participating virtually.
Delegates will brainstorm and share ideas on traditional medicine during the one-day conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
About Ministry of AYUSH
It is a government ministry in India.
It is responsible for the development, promotion and regulation of traditional systems of medicine.
AYUSH is the abbreviation of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Society and aims to promote education and research of the above.
The ministry provides educational and training programs.
Establishment - 2014
Responsible Ministers - Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister and Mahendra Munjapara, Minister of State
Ministry Executive - Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary
Ministry of Motherhood - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
10. Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB):
Tags: Summits
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On 13 July 2023, the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) was held in Cartagena, Colombia.
An Overview of the news:
- An International Conference on “A Global Perspective on the Challenges of the Regional Elections 2023” was also organized by the National Civil Registry, Colombia.
- In the Executive Board meeting, the participants discussed various issues including programs and activities to be undertaken by A-WEB during 2023-24, Annual Progress Report of A-WEB and its regional offices including A-WEB India Centre, budget and membership related issues were discussed.
India's leadership in A-WEB:
- A three-member delegation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) was led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the meeting.
- On the sidelines of the 11th A-WEB Executive Board meeting, a bilateral meeting with the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea on the ECI Electronic Postal Ballot System was also held.
A-WEB Chair in 2022:
- During the 5th General Assembly meeting of A-WEB in Cape Town in November 2022, after CEC Rajeev Kumar successfully led the EMB through the COVID pandemic (2019-2022), A-WEB from ECI to the Electoral Commission of South Africa was assigned the presidency.
Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB):
- It has become the largest global association of election management bodies giving a new impetus to the spread of electoral democracy.
- Established: 2013
- Objective: To make valuable contributions, professional support and advice by sharing innovations, experiences and skills with the participation and cooperation of its members.
- Members: 120 Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) from 111 countries and 21 international organizations.
- Functions of A-web:
- A-WEB to organize capacity building programs for its member EMBs.
- To study election management practices.
- Conducting election visitor and observation programs in various countries for knowledge sharing with other member EMBs.
India A-Web Centre:
- In the A-WEB Executive Board meeting held in Bengaluru in September 2019, it was decided to set up an India A-WEB Center in New Delhi.
- It conducts documentation and research for sharing the best knowledge of A-WEB members and for training and capacity building of officials.
- Journal published by India A-Web Centre: 'A-Web India Journal of Election'.
