Minister Sajjan concludes successful G20 Development Ministers meeting in Varanasi, India

June 13, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today concluded a trip to Varanasi, India, where from June 11 to 13, 2023, he took part in the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting and visited Canada’s High Commission in India.

With the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” the development ministers focussed their discussions on how the G20 can help accelerate progress in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, including through efforts to improve access to financing. Minister Sajjan condemned Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and pointed to its severe impacts on food security at a moment of heightened risk of hunger and famine.

Throughout the meeting, Minister Sajjan reinforced the need for a collective effort to get progress towards the SDGs on track toward 2030, including by improving developing countries’ access to financing. Minister Sajjan called on the G20 to help maintain the momentum toward concrete reforms to the international financial architecture to help remove bottlenecks and barriers faced by developing-country partners, as will be discussed in the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, France, later this month. He also highlighted Canada’s commitment to the SDGs and to climate action, environment and biodiversity objectives while using a feminist lens, further demonstrating Canada’s leadership in line with its Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Minister Sajjan also held bilateral discussions with Svenja Shulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Shunsuke Takei, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan, Pat Conroy, Australian Minister for Defence Industry and International Development and the Pacific, and Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships on shared priorities, such as disaster response.

At the close of the meeting, India issued an Outcome Document and Chair Summary reflecting Ministers’ commitment to accelerate progress towards timely, full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs. Development Ministers endorsed the G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the SDGs and High-level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development.

Following the meeting, Minister Sajjan took the opportunity to meet in New Delhi with staff members of Canada’s High Commission in India.