Under India’s G20 presidency the 5thG20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) conference was organizedin Diu, Daman &Diu, Daman, Nagar Havelion 18th May 2023, Thursday. The first day of the conference witnessed a total of four sessions discussing understanding Blue Economy – Science and Service, and Blue Economy Management &Policy perspective. The two-day conference also had deliberations on ways forward toward building a sustainable Blue Economy. More than 35 foreign delegates and 40 Indian experts, delegates, and invitees participated in the RIIG conference.
On the first day of the meeting,G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant gave an address during the opening session of the meeting. He shared his views on a sustainable Blue Economy. He highlighted the challenges facing the ocean environment and the need for increased international cooperation to build a sustainable future. He urged everyone to focus on economic development and job creation while protecting marine resources for future generations. Thereafter, deliberations on various issues including blue economy sectors and opportunities, marine pollution, coastal and marine ecosystems and biodiversity, deep sea exploration, and new and renewable offshore energy were held.
Along with this, Mr. Prafulla K. Patel, Diu’s administratoralso gave an address during the inaugural session of the meeting. He extended a warm welcome to the G20 delegates participating in the meeting. Further, he expressed his vision of promoting fishing and tourism, economic welfare, and efficient research and innovation.
On the sidelines of the meeting, a week-long exhibition showcasing India’s G20 journey was inaugurated in Diu on 18th May 2023, Thursday.India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Dr. Shrivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Union Department of Science and Technology, Praful Patel, Administrator of the Union Territory of Diu, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli were present at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
Earlier, the G20 delegates who arrived to participate in the Research and Innovation Initiative Conference (RIIC) were accorded a traditional welcome. On the second day of the meeting, all the delegates will be visitingGir National Park and the famous Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
Previously, RIIG conferences on Materials for Sustainable Energy, Circular Bio-economy for Energy Transition, and Eco-innovation have taken place in Ranchi, Dibrugarh, and Dharamshala respectively.The G20 RIIG conference is being coordinated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
