G20 delegates arriving in India exempted from the 2% random Covid testing rule

 

The G20 (Group of 20) delegates and participants arriving in India have been exempted from the 2 per cent random Covid testing rule at airports, according to a top government official.

While speaking to ANI (Asian News International), the government official revealed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested the Ministry of Health Family and Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to inform all stakeholders at airports that G20 delegates are exempted from the 2 per cent random Covid testing rule. MEA also requested the aviation ministry of India for this exemption.

According to the official, the Indian government has decided to exempt the delegates and participants arriving to attend the G20 meetings in India till November 2023.

India is scheduled to host the G20 summit this year. Last year, India took over the presidency of the G20 Forum from the Republic ofIndonesia. The theme of India’s G20 presidency is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.’

The next G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government will take place from 9 to 10 September in New Delhi, the capital of India.

The first 'Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion' meeting of the G20 took place on 9 January in Kolkata. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands addressed the inaugural session.

According to government officials, the meeting focused on the principles of digital financial inclusion, remittance costs and SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) finance availability.

Manfred Auster, the consul general of Germany in Kolkata, said, “India is a great example of how financial inclusion can work.” Auster also appreciated India and Kolkata. Auster attended the G20 meeting in Kolkata.

During the first month of the G-20 Presidency of India, various meetings took place in Udaipur, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Reportedly, many cultural programmes and excursions were also arranged during the meetings.