The government has closed rooms in all five-star hotels in Delhi and major areas of the national capital to accommodate dignitaries and delegates who may fly in. G20 leaders’ above. The delegation alone, which will include heads of state from 20 countries, observers and special invitees, as well as heads of international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, is expected to add 400-500, an official said. The security forces and media combined together will add several thousand people, the official added.
The G20 meeting, at the end of more than 200 meetings held by India in the states and Union territories during its presidency, will be held at Pragati Maidan where the Integrated Exhibition-cum Convention Center has been built.
The two-day event will begin on September 9 in the morning, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself welcoming the leaders. After the day-long talks, the leaders are expected to gather again at Pragati Maidan for a cultural event and dinner. While the government started toying with the idea of having an evening culture at a place like Purana Quila, it seems to have gone into IECC itself, which is to be inaugurated by Modi on Wednesday.
The center is expected to showcase several achievements of India, including digital infrastructure, traditional culture and democratic values.
For couples, the government is planning a visit to the ICAR complex on Pusa Road and to the National Gallery for Modern Art, where a number of items that have been targeted through the “District One-Product” will be displayed. Also at the show there will be handicrafts, both at these places and at Pragati Maidan. For some G20 meetings, the government has also introduced UPI QR codes for delegates to pay for things electronically.
