G20 Sherpas’ Meeting on 15-16 September 2021

1. Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles and India's G20 Sherpa, participated in the two day long G20 Sherpas' meeting on 15-16 September 2021 in virtual format. This was the first G20 meeting attended by Shri Piyush Goyal since his appointment as India's G20 Sherpa.

2. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Luigi Mattiolo, Italy's G20 Sherpa, who welcomed Shri Piyush Goyal to the G20 family.

3. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss and exchange views on the Draft Rome Declaration, which would be adopted by G20 Leaders at the Rome Summit on 30-31 October 2021. The main themes of the Declaration were health and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable development, environment, climate and energy, gender equality, education, labour, employment, tourism, culture and digital economy.

4. The Sherpa thanked Italy for its leadership of the G20 this year and for its efforts at drafting a strong document for the Leaders covering a wide range of themes. Highlighting India's progress on each of these issues, he conveyed that India would play a constructive role in negotiating a meaningful and balanced statement for the Leaders.

New Delhi
September 17, 2021