India will call for united action to ensure zero-tolerance towards corruption and deepen G20 commitments towards countering the menace globally at the first Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting (ACWG) of G-20 to be held in Gurugram from 1-3 March, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Monday.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, he said India’s G-20 Presidency coincided with unprecedented economic, geopolitical and climate challenges. However, amidst a global gloomy economic outlook, India has emerged as a bright spot. Therefore, India would play its rightful role to bridge the North-South divide on pressing issues.
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The minister stated that during the three-day event at Gurugram, over 90 delegates from 20 member countries, 10 Invitee countries and 9 International Organisations would engage in detailed deliberations on strengthening International anti-corruption mechanisms. The delegates would experience India’s culture through specially curated Yoga sessions and visits to historic sites.
Jitendra Singh stated that since its inception in 2010, the G20 ACWG has been at the forefront of guiding the anti-corruption initiatives of G20 countries.
He pointed out that as the ‘Mother of Democracy’, India’s G-20 Presidency has given it a golden opportunity to become the voice of the Global South in unison with the other 19 powers by fast-tracking global anti-corruption efforts by addressing issues like money laundering, asset recovery and beneficial ownership.
Under India’s chairpersonship, G-20 nations would deliberate on areas of future action like bringing in processes, where fugitive economic offenders could be traced and extradited faster, and their properties abroad brought within the reach of the law of the land from which such offenders invariably escape.
