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G20 Goa roadmap endorses green tourism, digitalization

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the esteemed gathering during Tourism Ministerial Meeting through a video message…reports Asian Lite News

The Goa Roadmap was endorsed at G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting and Ministerial Meeting which was held in Goa from June 19-22, read the Ministry of Tourism press release.

The Roadmap outlined five priorities of the Goa Roadmap which will be implemented to achieve Sustainable Tourism ie Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. Briefing media persons about the outcomes of the Working Group and Ministerial meeting of tourism in New Delhi today, Secretary of Tourism V Vidyavathi, said that the Meeting concluded successfully with G20 countries and all other stakeholders making a firm commitment to the goal of Sustainable Tourism.

The Secretary further remarked that these five priorities provide a roadmap for sustainable tourism not only for India but also for the whole world, added the release.

She also disclosed that in India, a whole of government approach will be adopted and the five priorities will be shared with the Central Ministries as well as state governments so that they can dovetail them into their on-ground action plans and ensure the realisation of these priorities.

The Goa Roadmap also gave an overview of the thematic discussions held in the four tourism working group meetings. The thematic discussions included Archaeological tourism, Rural tourism, Adventure tourism, Film tourism and Cruise Tourism, added the release.

Vidyavathi also pointed out that during G20, international meetings are being held in more than 55 destinations in India for which appropriate infrastructure was created and amenities provided.

“This laid a strong foundation for MICE tourism and this will be promoted by the Ministry of Tourism in the coming days,” said Vidyavathi.

On the occasion, Additional Secretary Rakesh Verma gave a presentation highlighting the important events that were organized during the meeting.

He also gave details about thematic discussions on Cruise tourism as well as the significance of 5 priorities endorsed under the Goa.

During the 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting, all the G20 Member Countries, Guest Countries, and International Organizations recognized the efforts in finalizing the GOA Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals, the key deliverable of the tourism working group under India’s G20 Presidency.

‘GOA Roadmap for Tourism’ is aimed at providing national governments in the G20 countries and beyond, as well as other tourism players with voluntary tools and recommendations to leverage the sector’s capability to progress the SDGs, added the release.

The roadmap also highlights the need to sensitize the consumer side as well as responsible consumption. The approach of the GOA Roadmap focuses on promoting visitors’-led actions for Travel for Life in line with the Lifestyle for Environment movement launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the esteemed gathering during Tourism Ministerial Meeting through a video message.

In the video message, he highlighted that during India’s G20 Presidency, over 200 meetings are being organized at more than 100 locations throughout the country.

The Prime Minister stated that our efforts in the tourism sector are centered on preserving rich heritage and at the same time creating world-class infrastructure for tourism.

During the Tourism Ministerial Meeting on June 21, 2023, all the Ministers and Heads of Delegations from G20 Member countries, guest countries, and International Organizations welcomed the GOA Roadmap for Tourism and gave remarks on the successful completion of Tourism Working Group meetings.

On the sidelines of the 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting and Tourism Ministers Meeting, four thematic events were held which include, ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel’, ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in Tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’, ‘Public Private Dialogue: Importance of Travel & Tourism to the G20 Economies, in association with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’, and ‘Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism’, added the release.

The first thematic discussion on ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable and Responsible Travel’ was organized on June 19, 2023, focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism.

“An MoU was signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Airbnb to jointly promote India as one of the most sought-after Tourism destinations for travel enthusiasts around the world,” read the release.

A dedicated microsite was launched in the presence of the Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Development of the North Eastern Region of India G Kishan Reddy.

The Ministry of Tourism organized a second thematic discussion on ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative’ in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The discussion focused on encouraging the engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain.

The event encompassed high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). These interventions were followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders.

During this discussion, CNA-ST (Central Nodal Agency – Sustainable Tourism), Punjab Tourism Board, and RTSOI (Responsible Tourism Society of India) signed a signatory pact and pledged their commitment to the GTPI furthering the cause of the circular economy of plastics in the tourism industry, the release said. (ANI)

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India News Travel & Tourism

Goa declaration adopted unanimously at tourism meet

G Kishan Reddy said that on the basis of the Goa declaration, in the United Nations, another international conference will be held for 3 days in which around 200 countries’ tourism ministers …reports Asian Lite News

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy said the Goa declaration has been adopted unanimously by all countries, making the G20 Tourism Ministerial meet a successful event.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, successful G20 meetings are being held. Today the 4th tourism working group meeting and the ministerial meeting ended in Goa. The first meeting was held in Rann of Kutch, the second in Siliguri, the third in Srinagar and today’s final meeting in Goa took place. Except for Egypt and China, delegates from all countries were present. More than 130 delegates participated in the event. It was a successful meeting. Goa declaration has been adopted. After all, countries have spoken to the officials of their respective countries, everyone has given recommendations. Unanimously Goa declaration has been adopted making it a successful event,” he said. He said that on the basis of the Goa declaration, in the United Nations, another international conference will be held for 3 days in which around 200 countries’ tourism ministers and different people have been called on the agenda of the Goa Roadmap.

“Along with this, today’s discussions were held on different issues. The UNWTO wants to open a South Asia office in Delhi. Today the secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has also made an announcement. After speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and taking inputs from the minister of external affairs ministers and departments, the Indian government will take a decision on this. But today, the delegates that had come, the image that India had on tourism, after seeing these 4 meetings, India’s stature has increased for them. Currently, the situation is that they can’t separate India from them on the issue of tourism be it America, UK, Germany, Japan, or Singapore. All countries after the g20 Tourism meeting have witnessed India’s culture and heritage. For us it’s a very successful meeting,” Reddy added.

Speaking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message at the ministerial meeting, Reddy said, “Everyone has accepted the prime minister’s message that was given in the tourism ministerial meeting that terrorism divides people and tourism unites people.

He said that positive discussions took place at Goa’s Tourism ministerial meet.

“I feel India is going to be benefited from the tourism point of view and especially the state governments will get great help from this,” he added. (ANI)

ALSO READ: 4th G20 tourism meet to be held in Goa

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-Top News India News

4th G20 tourism meet to be held in Goa

The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministers meeting in Goa aim to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote sustainable development of the region…reports Asian Lite News

The concluding and last G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting along with the Tourism Ministers Meeting will be held in Goa from June 19 to 22.

Side events on fluvial initiatives of Cruise Tourism, Global Tourism Plastic Initiative & Public Private Sector are being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, GOI on the sideline of the main Tourism Working Group meeting, involving delegates from G20 member countries, central govt ministries, various State Governments and international organisations. Secretary Tourism, GOI, V Vidyathi said, “We have five major interconnected priority areas on which the Tourism Working Group discussions are centred. The idea is to work on these challenges and see how best we can move tourism towards a more sustainable development model, which will benefit all countries and the world. Towards that, the idea is to hear from other countries, share their experiences with us, share our own experiences with them, and then we emerge richer in terms of learning and understanding of the sector itself.”

She said that the five interconnected priority areas are Green Tourism, destination management, tourism MSMEs, Skills, and Digitalization.

“Now, these are areas which are interconnected which we had mentioned and the idea is that when we discuss these priority areas and see how they impact and impinge on each other, the discussions being held and that is what is now going to get incorporated the roadmap which all the countries are discussing and probably will be finalized in the next two days, she said.

The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministers meeting in Goa aim to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage, and promote sustainable development of the region.

A special Yoga session has been planned on the occasion of the ‘International Day of Yoga’ on June 21. Besides, an Art and Craft Bazaar is being organised by the state government, showcasing local handicrafts and artisans, signifying the importance of community participation. (ANI)

ā€˜Successful deliberations will promote growthā€™

Goa is one the best-known global tourist destinations and is the perfect grand finale for the Tourism Working Group meeting of G20 said Secretary, Tourism, V Vidyavathi at a media briefing in Goa on Sunday.

She said that Goa offers a host of experiences including beaches, heritage monuments, ecotourism, beautiful landscape, and rich culture and therefore is the best location to host the final meeting of the tourism working group. She also added, “Under India’s G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. These priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for 2030 SDGs. During the concluding meeting, G20 member countries, invited countries and international organizations would welcome and endorse the nearly finalized versions of both the document.”

The two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group are GOA Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration. The Ministry of Tourism has made positive progress in finalizing the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group. The focus of the discussions at the working groups has remained Sustainable Tourism, Smt V Vidyavathi reiterated.

Speaking on the side events she said that interesting side events on cruise tourism are planned on the theme ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel’ is being organized on 19th June 2023, focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism.

She added “The event will see the participation of G20 member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. The event will witness deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of cruise tourism globally. A panel discussion featuring esteemed speakers from G20 Member countries and guest countries will shed light on country-specific policies and initiatives on varied aspects of cruise tourism, its growth and the need to make cruise tourism sustainable and responsible.”

Along the sidelines of the main event on 20th June 2023, a national-level side event is being organized which will focus on ‘Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism’, to deliberate on various challenges and opportunities for developing Cruise Tourism in the country following the principles of sustainability. Multiple facets of Cruise Tourism (Coastal, Island, Regional and Yachting), perspectives from the Coastal States, private and public stakeholders in inland waterways, and perspectives from riverine States will be the focus areas of discussion during the event.

She also added that focusing on the environment a side event ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative’ in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is being held on 19th June.

The side event will focus on encouraging the engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain. The event will encompass high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). These interventions will be followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders and a signing ceremony to welcome the adherence of several organizations to the GTPI.Ā  (ANI)

ā€˜Successful deliberations will promote growthā€™

Goa is one the best-known global tourist destinations and is the perfect grand finale for the Tourism Working Group meeting of G20 said Secretary, Tourism, V Vidyavathi at a media briefing in Goa on Sunday.

She said that Goa offers a host of experiences including beaches, heritage monuments, ecotourism, beautiful landscape, and rich culture and therefore is the best location to host the final meeting of the tourism working group. She also added, “Under India’s G20 Tourism Track, the Tourism Working Group is working on five inter-connected priority areas, which are Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management. These priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the targets for 2030 SDGs. During the concluding meeting, G20 member countries, invited countries and international organizations would welcome and endorse the nearly finalized versions of both the document.”

The two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group are GOA Roadmap for tourism as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development goals and G20 Tourism Ministers’ Declaration. The Ministry of Tourism has made positive progress in finalizing the two key deliverables of the Tourism Working Group. The focus of the discussions at the working groups has remained Sustainable Tourism, Smt V Vidyavathi reiterated.

Speaking on the side events she said that interesting side events on cruise tourism are planned on the theme ‘Making Cruise Tourism a Model for Sustainable & Responsible Travel’ is being organized on 19th June 2023, focusing on strategies to promote cruise tourism.

She added “The event will see the participation of G20 member countries, invited countries, international organizations, and industry stakeholders. The event will witness deliberations on the challenges and opportunities in the growth of cruise tourism globally. A panel discussion featuring esteemed speakers from G20 Member countries and guest countries will shed light on country-specific policies and initiatives on varied aspects of cruise tourism, its growth and the need to make cruise tourism sustainable and responsible.”

Along the sidelines of the main event on 20th June 2023, a national-level side event is being organized which will focus on ‘Making India a Hub for Cruise Tourism’, to deliberate on various challenges and opportunities for developing Cruise Tourism in the country following the principles of sustainability. Multiple facets of Cruise Tourism (Coastal, Island, Regional and Yachting), perspectives from the Coastal States, private and public stakeholders in inland waterways, and perspectives from riverine States will be the focus areas of discussion during the event.

She also added that focusing on the environment a side event ‘Towards a circular economy of plastics in tourism – the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative’ in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is being held on 19th June.

The side event will focus on encouraging the engagement of tourism stakeholders to address plastic pollution through circular approaches across the tourism value chain. The event will encompass high-level introductory remarks and a keynote presentation on the action framework proposed by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). These interventions will be followed by a panel discussion with tourism stakeholders and a signing ceremony to welcome the adherence of several organizations to the GTPI.  (ANI)

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Food Goa Lite Blogs

Unique blend of Goan flavours

Goan cuisine is characterized by its unique blend of flavors, influenced by Portuguese, Hindu, and Muslim cultures. It is known for its spicy and tangy taste and the use of coconut, seafood, and kokum as key ingredients.

Chef Sombir Choudhary of Raahi and Jamming Goat comments, “Goan Food consists of warm and comforting dishes that consist of novel culinary styles due to its colonial history. Goan cuisine uses ingredients like tomatoes, chilies, potatoes, cashew nuts, pineapple, vinegar, and bread-like pao. It surely gives us so many emotions to add to our dishes and takes us down memory lane to where our mothers have been using these ingredients in every household across the country. The spices used in the cuisine are achieved by pounding spices with muscle power and patience. It is one of the few cuisines which has kept the age-old traditional style of cooking like the usage of Varn ā€“ a grinding stone to make pastes, Dantem ā€“ a hand mill to ground spice powders, and the usage of brass for making desserts. This traditional method imparts distinctive taste and aroma to the food.” 

He adds, “The cuisine has been developed out of a merger of various cultures that came in contact with Goa during their colonization such as Portuguese, British, Arab, Brazilian, African, French, Malaysian, Chinese, and even Indian cultures like Konkani, Malabari, Saraswat, and South Indian. This diversity in the cuisine is sure to be a delight to the motherā€™s palate and offers a wide scope of spices and intense flavors in the dishes.”

Here are some mouthwatering Goan meal recipes that you may make at home:

Goan Prawn Curry (10 portions) I By Chef Sombir Choudhary, Jamming Goat 3.0

For masala paste: 

Freshly grated coconut – 4 nos.

Byadgi Mirchi – 125gms

Sankeshwari Mirchi – 75 gms

Coriander seeds – 150 gms

Jeera whole – 30 gms

Garlic cloves peeled – 20 nos.

Black Pepper – 4 nos.

For tempering

Refined Oil – 45 ml

Onion sliced – 300 gms

Turmeric – 5 gms

Ginger juliennes – 75 gms

Tomato juliennes deseeded – 100 gms

Kokum – 7 nos.

Fresh Coconut Milk – 750 ml

Prawns:

Prawns (deshelled with tail) – 1 kg

Turmeric – 4 gms

Onion sliced – 150 gms

Ginger – 30 gms

Tomato – 100 gms

For Garnishing:

Coriander leaves

Grated coconut

Method:

Blend coconut, both the type of chillies, coriander seeds, Jeera, peeled garlic cloves and black pepper into a fine paste

In a pan, add refined oil, add ginger, onion, turmeric powder, tomato along with salt. Let this masala cook for a few seconds, post which add the paste that was made earlier. Add some water, add more salt if required, and then add the kokum to this curry. If the kokum is added initially, it will burn and not give the required taste

Allow it to cook until the masala loses its raw flavor. Remove the kokum if the curry is sour as per your taste. Now finish with coconut milk to balance the sourness of the kokum

For the prawns, clean them and mix them in another pot with turmeric powder, onion, ginger, tomato and salt

Add just enough water for the prawns to cook,drain the water and then add them to thecurry made initially

Do not allow the gravy to boil once again else it will release its oil on top

Garnish with some coriander leaves and grated coconut

Finally, serve the curry hot with rice or pao

Cheesy Beetroot Tikki I By Chef Vishal Said, Magique

20 grams Oil

200 grams Beetroot

50 grams potatoes

10 grams garlic

10 gram ginger

5 grams green chilli

5 grams chilli powder

2 grams jeera powder

2 grams garam masala

30 grams Roasted Channa dal powder

20 grams cashew powder

30 grams ghee

8 grams salt

75 grams processed Cheese

For the dip:

50 grams Hung Curd

25 grams processed Cheese

5 grams garlic

1 gram back pepper powder

2 grams parsley

Method:

Add oil to a pan

Add garlic, ginger & green chillies into the oil and sautƩ for 2 minutes

Add boiled and grated beetroot & potatoes to the pan and cook them for 3-4 minutes

Add the chilly powder, jeera powder, garam masala and salt. Cook it till all the mixture comes together

Remove the pan from the fire and mix the roasted Channa dal powder, Cashew powder

Divide the mixture into 5 parts

Stuff cheese into the mixture & shape them into round tikki shape

Add ghee to the pan and grill it on both sides

Serve the tikkis hot with the dip

Mix all the ingredients together to form a creamy, tasty dip

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Goa Lite Blogs Travel & Tourism

Goa beyond beaches

Parasailing is one of the most popular adventure sports on offer in Goa. Adrenaline junkies, who aspire to fly high above the blue Arabian Sea should definitely try out thisā€¦reports Asian Lite News

Goa has, without a doubt, been the reigning favourite among domestic and foreign tourists alike within India. The charming landscapes lined with coconut trees, sandy beaches, serene churches made popular by Bollywood, Portugal architecture and trendy bars have been the reason why Goa has been such a crowdpuller over the last two decades.

But as tourism in Goa grows, the city too is evolving to cater to a wider variety of interests, says Niharika Nigam, Director, Business Development at Jumpin Heights.

Imagine elevating the classic Goa experience with a splash of spine-chilling extreme adventure sports. Yes, Goa has now upped its game and opened its doors to some world-class adventure facilities. Take a look at what the city has to offer in terms of adrenaline-pumping experiences.

Bungy jumping

Bungy jumping in Goa is an experience not to be missed. The city now boasts of the countryā€™s second-highest bungy, operated by Jumpin Heights, experts who pioneered bungy jumping in India. After operating 80,000 jumps in Rishikesh, they have opened their second facility in Goa. Bungy from a height of 55 metres over Mayem Lake in North Goa, with Australia and New Zealand safety standards. So, adventure-seekers, rush to pack your bags and check this off your bucket list before this decade is over.

Scuba diving

Colourful corals, wrecks from the pages of history and the thrill of being in the abandon of the infinite sea, scuba diving is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And the best part is that you need not dish out big moolah for this sport in countries like Maldives or Thailand, because Goa offers you stunning experience of marine life while scuba diving with the best of instructors and safety equipment.

Parasailing

Parasailing is one of the most popular adventure sports on offer in Goa. Adrenaline junkies, who aspire to fly high above the blue Arabian Sea should definitely try out this. Parasailing is a hot favourite amongst families, kids, and couples as it offers the perfect combination of thrill and enjoyment while being comparatively easier than the other water sports.

River rafting

Mandovi or Mhadei river is one of the most picturesque rivers of Goa suited best for river rafting. Located about 50 kilometres away from Panjim, the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot and a popular trekking destination in Goa. It is now also earning the distinction of a white water rafting site, where you can head to, to get an adrenaline rush.

Kite surfing

Popular adventure activity in Goa, kite surfing is not for the faint-hearted. It requires controlling a speeding power kite on the water or in the sky, which is impossible without proper training. The adventure sport requires expert supervision and can only be done by adults.

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-Top News India News

SCO delegates enjoyed the best of Goan hospitality: Jaishankar

Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan after the completion of the meeting in Goa on Friday…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said all the delegates who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s foreign ministerial meeting in Goa were impressed by Goan cuisine, culture, and hospitality.
    
India hosted the meeting at a beach resort in Goa’s Benaulim on May 4 and 5.
    
“The SCO Foreign Ministers held their meeting in Goa on May 04-05, 2023. All delegates were impressed by Goan cuisine, culture, and hospitality,” Jaishakar tweeted.
    
“Thank Chief Minister @DrPramodPSawant and all officials involved for the excellent arrangements,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, China’s Qin Gang, Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov, and SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming.
    
Tajikistan’s foreign minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Kazakhstan’s Murat Nurtleu, and Kyrgyzstan’s Zheenbek Kulubaev also attended the meeting.

Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan after the completion of the meeting in Goa on Friday.

Jaishankar met Zheenbek Kulubaev of Kyrgyz Republic, Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan and Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan and held bilateral talks on various issues such as trade, connectivity and multilateralism.

“Nice to meet FM Zheenbek Kulubaev of Kyrgyz Republic. His warm words for our SCO presidency are greatly appreciated. Discussed development cooperation, connectivity, trade, S&T and our partnership in multilateral forums,” Jaishanker tweeted.

“Good meeting with FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan. Appreciate his support for Indian SCO presidency. Agreed on increasing the frequency of meetings of our institutional mechanisms. Discussed connectivity, energy & digital cooperation. Exchanged perspectives on the region,” Jaishankar wrote on Twitter after meeting the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan.

“Warm conversation with DPM and FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan after SCO CFM in Goa. Thanked him for supporting our presidency. Discussed broad-basing our economic and political cooperation and increase engagement with the region,” the EAM tweeted.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. The SCO has India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its members.

India took over the rotating presidency of the SCO at the summit held in Samarkand in 2022.

The last meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. India took over the rotating presidency of the SCO at the Samarkand SCO Summit in 2022.

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-Top News Europe

Russian FM to attend SCO Summit In Goa

Template for Security Council could reflect G20: Lavrov

There will also be an exchange of views on topical issues of the international and regional agenda…reports Asian Lite News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in India on May 4-5.

The heads of foreign policy departments plan to give priority attention to the substantive content of the upcoming meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, which is scheduled for July 3-4 in New Delhi, according to an official release. They will also discuss drafts of the relevant documents and decisions.

There will also be an exchange of views on topical issues of the international and regional agenda.

In addition, the Russian Foreign Minister will have a number of bilateral meetings.

Meanwhile, Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting scheduled to be held on Friday in the national capital.

Li Shangfu will also take part in the bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

This is the first visit by the Chinese Defence Minister following the border transgression in Galwan.

Pak participation

On Pakistan’s participation in the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting which is set to take place in India, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that it will not be appropriate to focus on a particular member.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that his participation in a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council in India reflected Islamabad’s commitment to the charter of the SCO and should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties.

New York, Dec 15 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism, in New York on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

Responding to a question on a programme on Dunya News aired on Thursday, he said he would represent Pakistan at the Foreign Ministers meeting to be held in Goa next month. “We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO,” Bhutto-Zardari said. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that Bhutto-Zardari will lead the Pakistani delegation to the meeting of SCO foreign ministers (CFM) scheduled to be held on May 4-5 in Goa.

Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during a weekly presser on Thursday stated that Bhutto-Zardari is attending the SCO-CFM meeting at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

“Our participation at the meeting reflects Pakistan’s continued commitment to the SCO charter and process and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities,” the spokesperson said.

Bilawal will be the first foreign minister to visit India after a gap of nearly 12 years, reported Business Recorder. In 2011, then Pakistan foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited India.

India has formally sent invitations to all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) including Pakistan and China for the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting. (ANI)

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Goa India News Travel & Tourism

Goa CM urges to take tourism beyond ‘Sun-Sand-Sea’ concept

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.(twitter)

The Chief Minister added that there is a need to encourage making of the Kunbi saree and shawl and make its promotion to increase sales…reports Asian Lite News

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that it is the responsibility of the people of Goa to take tourism area beyond ‘Sun-Sand-Sea’ concept, for which government can help in creating the infrastructure.

Sawant was speaking during ‘cashe festival’ organised by Forest Development Corporation, which he announced will be an annual event.

“I am sure even the tourists visiting the state will attend this two-day festival. This will help to promote cashew products of Goa,” he added.

“Earlier the tourism concept was only ‘Sun-Sand-Sea’, now we have to take this concept beyond it. Only government can’t do it, people of the state will have to take responsibility for it. We can create infrastructure in remote areas, however the tourism activities will have to be created by PPP model,” Sawant said.

The Chief Minister added that there is a need to encourage making of the Kunbi saree and shawl and make its promotion to increase sales.

The ‘Kunbi’ saree, a traditional dressing style of ‘Kunbi’ tribe, existed even before Portuguese captured Goa. Kunbi saree got a lease of life when eminent Goan fashion designer late Wendell Rodricks promoted it on the fashion ramp.

Sawant said that artisans and handicraft of Goa should be promoted in the tourism area.

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Goa to showcase achievements ahead of G20 meet

At the Corlim (North Goa) PCH, the organisers showcased the adoption and use of Hospital Management Information System (E-Sushrut) along with the generation of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA)…reports Asian Lite News

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with the Goa government showcased the health infrastructure in the state ahead of the G20 Working Group meeting that is scheduled to be held in the coastal state from April 17 to 19.

The organisers of the meeting said the health facilities being provided at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Panaji are exceptional. “India’s G20 Presidency has identified three priorities in the health track, namely health emergencies prevention and preparedness; strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector and digital health innovation and solutions,” they said.

The organisers showcased India’s achievements in digital health Innovations, such as the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission at PHC Corlim and the technological innovation under the Swasth Mahila Swasth Goa program presented through the iBreast Device, an initiative supported by YouWeCan, founded by former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, that aids breast cancer examinations at PHC Dharbondara in South Goa.

At the Corlim (North Goa) PCH, the organisers showcased the adoption and use of Hospital Management Information System (E-Sushrut) along with the generation of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA).

Integration of central registration, general OPD, physiotherapy, dental OPD, ophthalmic OPD, ayurvedic OPD, pharmacy, and laboratory on E-Sushrut was also demonstrated. The successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program (PMNDP) is another component that was prominently showcased by the organisers.

The PMNDP portal integrates all the dialysis centres operational in the state under the National Health Mission and facilitates building of a renal registry and ensuring portability within the state (One State-One Dialysis) and later throughout the country (One Nation-One Dialysis).

Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana, free of cost dialysis is provided to patients in the state.

The state currently has over 100 dialysis machines across various PHCs, ensuring safe and affordable care.

‘Northeastern region will be gateway to South East Asia’

Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Wednesday said that the northeastern region would become India’s gateway to South East Asia, and would have seamless land connectivity with the heart of ASEAN and beyond once the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway is completed.

He said this while addressing the inaugural session of the 4th and last G20 Business Meet in northeast under under India’s G20 presidency,

Singh said that the hosting of B-20 event in Kohima is an outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that through India’s G20 Presidency, India in all its glory should be showcased to the world.

He said that the Prime Minister Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) showcases the importance being attached to the development of the northeast region by the government as ‘New Engine Growth of India’.

Saying that the government is continuously working for seamless land and rail connectivity with Bangladesh and pitching northeast India to the business community to invest in, Singh stated that northeast can be seen as a potentially dynamic region of the world, surrounded by ASEAN, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, with the youth from northeast playing critical role in hospitality and care-giving sectors across India.

With its rich human resource base, he said that northeast can grow their business in the region and beyond, offering immense and relatively unexplored market opportunities.

Singh said ‘diversity is the strength of the northeastern states’ with more than 250 ethnic tribes domiciled in the region.

“Hitherto, the region was reckoned as landlocked but with the formation of bilateral and multilateral ties with other countries, the region has now become the centres for investment and partnering with other global business communities and platform for various collaborations.”

He stated that the G20 meeting is a good platform to showcase to the world the potential of the region. The minister also assured that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is ready to assist the states in exploring the potential areas of the region for investment and promotion of partnership in the business sector.

Singh also expressed the desire for collaboration of educational institutions, and construction of all-weather roads in all the border villages having close proximity with international boundary lines. He also proposed for opening of more border hubs.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that Kohima is witnessing the convergence of 60 overseas delegates from 27 countries and the delegation includes diplomatic, focused trade and business delegates.

He added that over 100 B2B and B2G requests were generated for interaction with government departments in Tourism, Commerce and Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, Healthcare and Food Processing.

Rio said that Nagaland would benefit from the B20 Conference as it is strategically located and will help Nagaland develop as a base for boosting links with ASEAN countries.

He mentioned that the trade potential of the state lies in its strength in agro and forest based, mining and minerals based and services based industries.

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Goa steps up G20 preparations

Health and security of the G20 delegates are under focus as Goa is all set to host its first G20 meeting this month…reports Asian Lite News

With just a few weeks left for the first meeting of the G20 summit in Goa, the state government is looking at all avenues to ensure prevention and preparedness against health emergencies and security arrangements.

Sanjit Rodrigues, Secretary Protocol and Nodal Officer for G20 of Goa, said that the preparation for the upcoming meetings is going on in full swing with the government exploring every aspect of management. “Across Goa, from the airports to the route to be covered during the G20 meetings, everything is being spruced up. We are adding greenery and beautifying the stretches. We are trying to give the delegates a comfortable stay here through experiences, dinners and cultural programmes,” he said on Sunday.

From providing medical cover to delegates to having a dedicated team at all venues, the health department has planned it all.

“We’re ready with both, a medical cover for the delegates as well as designated teams at the venues and airports,” Dr Kedar Raikar, Nodal Officer Ayushman Bharat, Digital India, DHS who is currently holding the position of OSD (Health) of G20 said.

The medical cover will include life savers ambulance services, in addition to other medical facilities.

He further said that doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff from Goa Medical College, the Directorate of Health Services and the EMRI 108 will be trained and deployed for these meetings to provide additional support.

“The Goa Medical College and Hospital will be used to cater to surgical and medical emergencies as well as the treatment and evaluation of patients. We have identified a dedicated ward alongwith ICU facility for this purpose,” Dr Raikar added.

Additionally, the health department is also ready to effectively address other contagious and infectious illnesses at the airport and other venues.

In the technologically advancing age, the health department has also made some notable changes in digital health and preparedness in Goa which will be showcased to the visiting delegates.

“Under the health management systems, we are showcasing PHC Corlim for switching from offline to online mode of treatment. The hospital provides online services right from the registration counter to the patient getting lab investigated,” Dr Raikar said.

However, the delegates will also be able to explore the dialysis centres at the health and wellness centres, emergency care centres, and elderly care centres as well as telemedicine, teleconsultation and OPDs at the PHC Corlim, PHC Dharbandora and PHC Aldona.

New initiatives and the state’s efforts towards going digital and improving treatment plans will be showcased during the course of the meetings in Goa.

This comes as part of the nationwide rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27 in 2021.

The mission is aimed at developing the digital health infrastructure of the country and making data sharing easier across different stakeholders of the health system.

On the security front, Jaspal Singh, Goa Director General of Police (DGP) has assured that the department will follow all security and safety measures during the stay of the visiting delegates in Goa.

Similarly, Omvir Singh Bishnoi, IPS, Goa Inspector General of Police, Nodal Officer (Security) – G20 stated that all security arrangements will be ensured promptly and will be in place before the planned meetings.

“We have already conducted an interdepartmental security coordination meeting under the DGP of the state wherein all departments were roped in and the final list was discussed. I have also conducted a meeting with managerial meetings with the staff of hotels and airports. Venue commander and two officers have been deputed as venue commander for both the airports,” he also said.

The final meeting with all the stakeholders will be held on April 13 to find out all the details for the event and transportation of the delegates.

As part of the eighth G20 summit to be held in Goa starting in April, two ministerial and six other meetings will be held in the state spread across the next four months.

The first meeting in Goa is scheduled to be held from April 17-19 at Grand Hyatt, Bambolim-Goa and will have in attendance international health officials and delegates for the 2nd Health Working Group Meeting. (ANI)

Agartala welcomes delegates from 14 countries

Delegates from 14 countries on Sunday arrived in Agartala to attend the two-day G20 summit in the city starting April 3 on the theme of ‘Clean Energy for Greener Future’.

The delegates and close to 90 high officials arrived at Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) international airport at 2 pm on Sunday. They were then checked into Agartala’s Hotel Polo Towers. The delegates on their visit are likely to visit the historical Albert Ekka Park and then visit the light and sound show at Kumari Tilla near Agartala’s G B Pant Hospital.

The delegates will be attending the summit tomorrow.

The delegates will also call on Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. The summit will take place at Hapania International Fair Ground in Agartala tomorrow.

The state is making massive preparations for the event, and dozens of decorated stalls have been installed at the Hapania indoor exhibition hall.

Stalls belong to various districts of the state showcasing their products. The state has worn an enlightened attire, with paints and decorative material.

Minister of Industries and Commerce, Santana Chakma, visited the exhibition hall to inspect the ongoing preparations and stated that Tripura is well prepared to welcome the international and national delegates.

Notably, this is the first time an international meeting of such stature will be held in Tripura.

Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Saha also spoke about the preparedness and the glory of hosting a prestigious G20 meet.

The delegates will visit all the historical and attractive places of the state like Ujjayanta palace, and Nirmahal, among others.

“I have held review meetings with all the concerned ministries and office heads to take the stock of their preparedness towards the program yesterday and got to know that all are ready to host and are eagerly waiting for the summit to happen. It should be a great source of encouragement and inspiration for the state of Tripura as the whole world will come to see the state of Tripura with its beautiful and attractive historical places,” CM said.

“Tripura is well prepared to host the delegates from the European and other countries of the world in the upcoming G20 summit which has been scheduled to be held on 3rd and 4th. This is in the great pleasure for the people of Tripura as for the first time such a huge kind of program of international standard is going to be held in the state,” CM added. (ANI)

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