Jammu and Kashmir is all set to host the next iteration of the G20 meeting in 2023 which includes an influential group of the world’s major economies. In light of that the government of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday set up a five-member high level committee for the overall coordination.

It will be the first major international summit to be held in Jammu and Kashmir after the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories in 2019.

The Union minister of commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal had been appointed as India’s Sherpa for the G20 summit in September last year. The external affairs ministry had said that India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022 and will convene the G-20 summit in 2023 for the first time.

According to an order on Thursday, the principal secretary of the union territory’s housing and urban development department will act as the chairman of the committee formed to overlook the preparations.

The order issued by principal secretary of the general administration department, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi read, “Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a committee…for overall co-ordination of G20 meetings to be held in the Union Territory of J&K.”

The other members of the committee include commissioner secretary of transport, administrative secretary of tourism, administrative secretary of hospitality and protocol and administrative secretary of culture.

The order also said, “Further, principal secretary to the government, housing and urban development department is also nominated as UT level nodal officer to coordinate the arrangements for G20 meetings in the Union Territory of J&K.”

It may be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been leading India’s representation at the G20 summit since 2014. India has been a member of the G20 since it was founded in 1999.

According to the MEA, India will be a part of the G20 Troika (preceding, current, and incoming G20 Presidencies) from December 1, 2021 till November 30, 2024.