Shaktikanta Das appointed G20 Sherpa till Dec 2018
NEW DELHI: Former economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das was on Monday appointed India’s G20 Sherpa till December 31 next year for the Development Track of the grouping.
“Former DEA secretary Shaktikanta Das @Dasshaktikanta appointed India’s G20 Sherpa till December 31, 2018, for the Development Track of the G20,” the finance ministry said in a series of tweets. There are two tracks in G20 — the Finance Track and the Development Track.
“Finance Track is managed by the secretary (Economic Affairs), ministry of finance, as India’s deputy to G-20 and the Development Track is coordinated by the Sherpa.
The department of economic affairs will provide necessary support to the Sherpa,” said another tweet. Das was at the forefront of the government’s defence on demonetisation as the economic affairs secretary.
Former Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya had suggested to PM Narendra Modi to find a full-time Sherpa for the G20 talks as India’s role is expanding in the global arena.
Panagariya was appointed India’s Sherpa for the G20 talks in September 2015, replacing the then railway minister Suresh Prabhu. Sherpas, who are representatives of leaders of G20 member countries, coordinate on the agenda of the summit.
SHERPAS, WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF LEADERS OF G20 MEMBER COUNTRIES, COORDINATE ON THE AGENDA OF THE SUMMIT