Despite the lack of a joint communiqué, the Indian presidency has tried to keep the focus on international cooperation and prevent geopolitical disputes from overshadowing the core task.

However, the event also sparked controversy over certain geopolitical issues, such as the use of language condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine. In particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the New Delhi summit.

At the annual event, which ends this weekend in the state capital, several meetings have been held in 60 cities in India.

Among the key issues that member countries will address is the expansion of the G20 to include the African Union, which has already received significant support.

India’s Sherpa at the G20, Amitabh Kant, recently told Mint that most countries supported India’s proposed proposal and expressed their positive reactions to the Prime Minister’s announcement. Discussions about a further extension to groups such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not be up for debate, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stressed that the focus of India’s G20 presidency’s fiscal policy has been on strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs) to deal with the growing debt problems of developing countries.

The G20 under the Indian presidency is also working on solutions that can make a constructive contribution to the efforts of the multilateral development banks.

G20 leaders will discuss not only restructuring existing debt and providing sustainable finance, but also how the international community can help free up funds for vulnerable countries and protect their people from economic hardship.

Development themes will revolve around sustainability with a focus on achieving net zero targets within the given timeline.

Under the Indian Presidency, the G20 finance sector has set out its priorities, including strengthening the international financial architecture, financing global public goods, addressing global debt and vulnerabilities, addressing the macroeconomic impact of food and energy security, and financing sustainable and resilient cities for the US future.

In addition, the Sherpa track focuses on socio-economic issues, including agriculture, anti-corruption, climate change, digital economy, education, employment, energy, environment, health, tourism, trade and investment.

Throughout the Indian Presidency, the 13 ministerial meetings have produced successful outcomes. For example, at the meeting of development ministers, the G20 adopted an action plan aimed at accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting sustainable development lifestyles.

At the meeting of agriculture ministers, on the other hand, the high-level Deccan principles on global food security and nutrition were successfully adopted, which is considered a significant milestone.

Trade and Investment Ministers also endorsed high-level principles for the digitization of trade documents, which will facilitate trade and help facilitate doing business.

There was also global consensus on the principles of digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity in the digital economy and the development of digital skills at last month’s meeting of digital economy ministers.