G-20 Presidency: India to host first in-person Anti-Corruption Ministerial meeting

In order to bolster the international fight against corruption, India will host the first ever in-person Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting of the G-20 during the ongoing presidency of the group, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said without disclosing the date and venue of the expected ministerial meeting.

This piece of information was shared by the Ministry after the conclusion of the three-day (May 25-27) 2nd meeting of the G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group in Rishikesh in Uttarakhand on Sunday.

A total of 90 delegates from G-20 countries, 10 invitee countries and 9 international organizations including UNODC, OECD, Egmont Group, INTERPOL, and IMF attended the three-day meeting of the G-20 Anti-corruption Working Group.

According to the Ministry, over the past three days, there have been intensive and productive deliberations on several key focal areas pertaining to Asset recovery, Fugitive economic offenders, formal and informal channels of cooperation for information sharing, institutional frameworks for combating corruption and mutual legal assistance, among others.

The delegates agreed upon the three High Level Principles on ‘Promoting Integrity and effectiveness of Public Bodies and Authorities responsible for Preventing and Combating Corruption;’ ‘Strengthening Law Enforcement related International Cooperation and Information Sharing for Combating Corruption’ and 'Strengthening Asset Recovery Mechanisms related to Corruption.’

Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi delivered the keynote address on the first day of the Anti-Corruption Working Group.

During this event, national and international experts and practitioners deliberated on the gendered aspects of corruption, the ways in which women’s empowerment is intrinsically linked with anti-corruption initiatives and the need for gender sensitive governance and policy making, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said.

The delegates got a flavor of India’s rich culture, heritage, and cuisine during their stay at Rishikesh.

India looks forward eagerly to hosting the delegates again at Kolkata from August 9-11 for the 3rd Anti-Corruption Working Group meeting.

India holds the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. During its Presidency more than 200 meetings will be organised in over 50 cities of the country.

As many as 43 Heads of Delegations-the largest ever in G20-will be participating in the final New Delhi Summit in September this year.