Aasif Suhaf, Srinagar: The G20 Summit is held annually with a rotating presidency with India holding the 2023 Presidency. The group does not have a permanent secretariat and is supported by the previous, current, and future holders of the presidency, known as the troika. In 2023, the troika consists of Indonesia, Brazil, and India.

The G20 Submit list includes a tourism working group meeting in Srinagar, Kashmir, in May. The meeting will mark the first major international event in the disputed region since August 2019, when India revoked Indian-administered Kashmir’s special autonomous status. The G20 summit is expected to promote Kashmir internationally and give a new dimension to the tourism sector of Kashmir.

The tourism sector is the backbone of the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, and a record number of tourists are expected to visit Kashmir this year also. The event, which will take place from May 22-24 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, is expected to have a positive impact on the tourism and trade sectors of the region. By hosting the meeting in Srinagar, India likely aims to highlight its rich geographic diversity.

The city is geared up. All the important monuments, and structures, have been illuminated, blacktopping of the roads done. Repair works are also underway.

Being a group of the world’s biggest economies, G-20 represents 90% of global GDP, almost 80% of international trade, and 2/3 of the global population. The main objectives of the G-20 Group are to solve the issues of the global economy, establish financial security and stability, prevent climate change and promote sustainable development for J&K; the G20 Submit will address the following advantages:

• G-20 meetings in Srinagar will give Kashmir’s Tourism potential a global push at a Global Platform and help showcase Kashmir’s great art, culture and heritage, besides finding solutions to challenges being posed by the climate change in J&K.
• G20 event in Kashmir would address Global Challenges affecting economic growth, such as finance, trade, infrastructure, investment, energy, employment, corruption eradication, development, agriculture, technology, innovation, and the digital economy.
• G20 event in Kashmir would bring numerous benefits to the local community. G20 event is an opportunity to revive people’s interest in exploring new destinations.
• The G-20 summit would create job opportunities for locals in the handicraft and tourism sectors. This would provide a much-needed boost to the local employment market and help to reduce poverty in the region.
• The G-20 summit would require the construction of new infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation facilities. This would provide an opportunity for local businesses to benefit from the development of these facilities.
• The G-20 summit is a high-profile event that attracts media attention from around the world. The image of India created by Pakistan in the world through propaganda about J&K will be shattered.

Numerous contributions made by the Jammu and Kashmir government to the state have benefited its residents. Its initiatives for infrastructure improvement, education, cultural preservation, and development have contributed to the state’s overall growth and development. It will be a proud moment for all of us Indians as we celebrate our victory in this fight against terrorism.