Page 54 - NIS English 16-31 February,2023

Nation G-20

PRIVATE FINANCING IN THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE

CITIES AND GOVERNMENTS SHOULD GET READY

Globally, urbanization is increasing rapidly. Cities are developing on many different themes
including smart cities, cyber cities, and green cities. Under this backdrop, the first meeting of the
G-20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) under the chairmanship of India on private financing for
such cities along with the challenges and opportunities of the cities of the future, was held at Pune,
Maharashtra which is also known as Queen of Deccan on 16-17 January.

he two-day meeting of the IWG was also discussed.
attended by 64 participants from 18 A workshop on Financing the Cities of the
Tmember countries, 8 guest countries, and Future brought together international experts
8 international organizations. In the meeting to discuss the issues of how cities of the future
chaired by India and co-chaired by Australia and must integrate their key administrative functions
Brazil, the topic 'Financing Cities of the Future – their planning and financing – to enhance
- Inclusive, Strong and Sustainable' was at the private participation. It also discussed how
center of discussion. This theme underlines the cities and governments can position themselves
message of development based on equality. The to increase private funding for the cities of the
theme has been chosen keeping in mind the work future. The Finance Ministry is guiding the G20's
infrastructure agenda to ensure that the G20 acts
done under previous presidencies. as a global catalyst to visualize new ideas and
Developing infrastructure as an asset with accelerate collective action.
the 2023 infrastructure After the conclusion of the
agenda, making cities meeting, on 17th January,
economic hubs of growth, G-20 CAN FURTHER EXPAND THE the guests got a glimpse
building future-ready urban AGENDA OF INFRASTRUCTURE of the cultural history of
infrastructure, the role Pune which blends rich
of cities in meeting the The G-20 is a forum that can take history and modernity and
Sustainable Development forward the infrastructure agenda. The tasted the cuisine of the
Goals, and energy-efficient theme of India's chairmanship of G-20 city. The second meeting of
and environmentally is 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' the Infrastructure Working
sustainable infrastructure keeping in mind that India will set the Group has been scheduled
with the introduction of on March 28 and 29, 2023,
private financing among direction of the infrastructure-related in Visakhapatnam, Andhra
many other topics were agenda for 2023. Pradesh.

52 New India Samachar February 16-28, 2023