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Mumbai: CNN-News18 G20 Town Hall, which took place ahead of the G20 Summit in the national capital, served as a testament to India’s growing prominence on the global stage and its emergence as ‘Vishwamitra’ (Friend of the world) to maintain global harmony and peace.

The summit explored India’s G20 theme – One Earth, One Family, One Future’, and the country’s role in driving the development agenda under the theme. Eminent guests including government officials, policymakers, and diplomats from around the world exchanged their views during the course of the event, underscored global challenges and the need for collaborative solutions through discussions on culture, academics and politics.

In a compelling address, India’s minister of commerce & industry, consumer affairs and food & Public Distribution, and Textiles Piyush Goyal, asserted India’s pivotal role in the global supply chain and expressed optimism about India’s economic trajectory. “It will be remembered as one of the most hospitable G20 summits. In the next 30 years, the under-30 population of India is going to add at least 30 trillion dollars to our GDP at the very least. By 2047, India will have a $35 trillion GDP and will be the driving force behind world’s growth engine in future.”

G20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla reflected on the shifting global perception of India. He stated, “One discernible change seen in recent years is the respect with which India is received. We are hosting the presidents and prime ministers of the most influential countries in the world, and this shows a sense of the growing capabilities of the country.”

Shringla also emphasised India’s remarkable economic growth journey. He added, “Ten years ago, we were the 10th largest economy; today, we are fifth, and in a few years, we will be the third largest in the world. “Indians today are far more respected in any part of the world than they were 10 years ago and it is because we have achieved what we have.”

Praising India’s G20 Presidency, European union’s ambassador to India, Ugo Astuto stated, “India successful addressed critical global issues, including climate change, digital transition, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development goals that are topical to the international community, especially Europe.”

NITI Aayog former CEO & G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant, highlighted the importance of India’s G20 presidency to advance the growth of the Global South and indicated that India was well on its way to becoming the voice of both developing nations and emerging economies. He added, “Developing nations are the key to the rest of the world. And it is this future that the world is looking at. This year 80% of the growth is coming from emerging markets. The IMF has said in the next two decades, two-thirds of the growth in economies will come from developing countries because the demographics of these nations is very young while the population in the West is ageing,” the G20 Sherpa elaborated.”

India’s minister of state for external affairs & culture Meenakshi Lekhi, underlined the significance of the G20 Summit and its lasting impact. Responding to the discussion on India’s potential renaming to Bharat, she stated, “We have wasted a lot of time on this. These are interchangeable words, but a few people will try to polarize the issue.”

CNN-News18 Town Hall has solidified its reputation as a leading platform for academics, influential voices, policymakers, and opinion leaders in India. The channel’s commitment to delivering unbiased news and facilitating informed conversations makes this event an invaluable opportunity for political leaders and viewers alike.