G-20 Countries decide on Supply of medical items!
Posted on: 01/Apr/2020 1:24:18 PM
Curfew/lockdown has been imposed in various countries as a preventive action against the raging coronavirus pandemic! Flights to other countries have been cancelled. Due to this situation, import/export activities have also been halted!
In this scenario, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the initiative to take the preventive activities against the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic by joining with several other countries!
In the 1st Phase of this initiative, the Prime Minister had consultations with SAARC Countries (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). Subsequently, as per his suggestion, a meeting of the leaders of Group-20 countries (economically most powerful nations) was conducted recently.
G-20 group of 20 countries includes India, America, Russia, China, Italy, France, and Japan.
Video Conference
A video conference was conducted yesterday (Tuesday, 31st March) of the Ministers for Trade and Investment from the 20 countries. Detailed discussions were held on the related issues of the coronavirus pandemic. A joint report has been released after this video conference. The report mentions:
‘With the lockdown/curfews in place in several countries reeling under the impact of the raging coronavirus pandemic, discussions were held regarding the G-20 countries jointly operating on this critical issue. In the present situation, there is a great demand for medicines and medical kits/equipment.
It has been decided to supply these requirements to different countries immediately as required! It has been decided that the G-20 countries should function as a Unit without any profit-motives to successfully encounter the challenge of the hardships encountered in the Trade and Investment.
It was also discussed in detail about the practical avenues available and implement them in a very transparent, honest, unbiased opening of the markets to others and sharing the requirements through roads, seaways and flight-routes!’
Address by the Ministers of Finance
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministers of the Group-20 countries conducted a review through video conference. It may be noted that the Finance Ministers had organised a conference earlier on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on economies. In this situation, the Finance Ministers of G-20 Countries conducted a second video conference yesterday (Tuesday, 31st March)
