New Delhi (07.07.2022): Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant (Retd IAS:1980:KL) will be the new SHERPA of the G-20 Summit in the rank and status of Union Secretary. Kant replaces Union Minister Piyush Goyal, as full-time SHERPA required for India's presidency.
Kant was NITI Aayog CEO for almost six years and completed his extended term last month. Prior to becoming CEO he worked as Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP).
As per the notification issued by the South Block, Ministry of External Affairs will coordinate and provide secretarial support together with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).
With the G-20 presidency coming to India this year, the Sherpa would need to devote a lot of time to numerous meetings that will be held in different parts of the country and abroad.
Union Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal holds multiple portfolios and functions as the Leader of Rajya Sabha which demands a lot of his time. It is believed that the appointment of Kant as a new Sherpa comes as a big relief for the Union Minister Piyush Goya.’
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla was appointed as India's chief G20 coordinator 21 days ahead of his retirement (30.04.2022). G20 chief coordinator is a secretary-level post. Shringla’s tenure began on May 1 and he will hold the post till December 2023.
It may be underlined that India assumes the G20 presidency later this year after the Summit in Indonesia and prepares to host the 2023 event.
The G20 Summit, the biggest multilateral event hosted by India in recent years, will entail all P5 (US-Russia-China-UK-France) delegations simultaneously in India.
