Minister Sajjan concludes successful G20 Development Ministers meeting in Varanasi, India

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

June 13, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today concluded a trip to Varanasi, India, where from June 11 to 13, 2023, he took part in the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting and visited Canada’s High Commission in India.

With the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” the development ministers focussed their discussions on how the G20 can help accelerate progress in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, including through efforts to improve access to financing. Minister Sajjan condemned Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and pointed to its severe impacts on food security at a moment of heightened risk of hunger and famine.

Throughout the meeting, Minister Sajjan reinforced the need for a collective effort to get progress towards the SDGs on track toward 2030, including by improving developing countries’ access to financing. Minister Sajjan called on the G20 to help maintain the momentum toward concrete reforms to the international financial architecture to help remove bottlenecks and barriers faced by developing-country partners, as will be discussed in the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, France, later this month. He also highlighted Canada's commitment to the SDGs and to climate action, environment and biodiversity objectives while using a feminist lens, further demonstrating Canada’s leadership in line with its Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Minister Sajjan also held bilateral discussions with Svenja Shulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Shunsuke Takei, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan, Pat Conroy, Australian Minister for Defence Industry and International Development and the Pacific, and Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships on shared priorities, such as disaster response.

At the close of the meeting, India issued an Outcome Document and Chair Summary reflecting Ministers’ commitment to accelerate progress towards timely, full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs. Development Ministers endorsed the G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the SDGs and High-level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development.

Following the meeting, Minister Sajjan took the opportunity to meet in New Delhi with staff members of Canada’s High Commission in India.

Quotes

“In the spirit of India’s G20 presidency, One Earth, One Family, One Future, we must all contribute to addressing the global challenges that affect sustainable development around the world and work as one to meet the UN 2030 Agenda goals. From combatting climate change, addressing global food security challenges, promoting gender equality and working to improve access to financing for development, Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating progress across all SDGs. As Russia’s illegal and unjust war against Ukraine continues, we are seeing severe impacts to the global economy.”

- Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Quick facts

  • The G20 is the primary forum for international economic cooperation among its members. Its members include the world's major developed and emerging economies and represent all inhabited continents. According to the International Monetary Fund, in 2022, G20 members accounted for over 80 per cent of world GDP, roughly 75 per cent of global trade, and over 60 per cent of the world's population.

  • Canada and India have deep ties built on shared democratic values and a long-standing friendship. The wide-ranging bilateral cooperation between Canada and India spans the fields of science and technology, finance, education and security.

  • The deep people-to-people connections between Canada and India are at the heart of our relationship. As of 2021, there were an estimated 1.3 million Canadians of Indian origin in Canada, and India is the primary source of immigrants to Canada.

  • In 2022, India was Canada’s 10th-largest merchandise trade partner (total trade), and the relationship has been steadily growing. The stock of two-way foreign direct investment between Canada and India amounted to $4.6 billion (total book value) in 2021, with Canadian direct investment in India standing at $2.9 billion (total book value). In addition, Canadian portfolio and institutional investment into India reached $70 billion.

Associated links

Contacts

Haley Hodgson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development
Haley.Hodgson@international.gc.ca

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Global Affairs Canada
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