In the sense that the G20 is mainly about global conversations and agendas, India succeeded in directing those conversations and setting out an agenda which will be picked up by the next G20 presidency country – Brazil.
India’s G20 presidency was focused on sustainable and inclusive growth, including women-led development initiatives.
India also shifted the G20 somewhat from a fundamental economic platform, to addressing the challenges of climate change, disasters, growing water and energy insecurity, democratic backsliding and gender inequality.
India was also successful in building consensus – something which has been a challenge over the years. It welcomed the African Union as the newest member and signalled the need for great inclusion of countries, including the Global South.
Drawing women-led development into the mainstream was a priority of India’s presidency, resulting in the G20 announcing the creation of a new Working Group on Empowerment of Women to support the G20 Women’s Ministerial that will start during Brazil’s term.
Indians embraced and celebrated the G20 – and India as president clearly made a positive difference.
Author: Stephen Manallack
Former President, Australia India Business Council, Victoria and Author, You Can Communicate; Riding the Elephant; Soft Skills for a Flat World (published by Tata McGraw-Hill INDIA); Communicating Your Personal Brand.
Director, EastWest Academy Pty Ltd and Trainer/Speaker/Mentor in Leadership, Communication and Cross Cultural Communication.
Passionate campaigner for closer western relations with India.
Stephen Manallack is a specialist on “Doing Business with India” and advisor/trainer on “Cross-Cultural Understanding”. He is a Director of EastWest Academy Pty Ltd which provides strategic advice and counsel regarding business relations with India.
A regular speaker in India on leadership and global communication, his most recent speaking tour included a speech to students of the elite Indian university, Amity University, in Noida. He also spoke at a major Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) global summit, the PR Consultants Association of India in Delhi, the Symbiosis University in Pune and Cross-Cultural Training for Sundaram Business Services in Chennai. He has visited India on business missions on 10 occasions and led three major trade missions there. He provides cross-cultural training – Asia and the west.
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