G20 Summit saw broadening of Omani diplomacy: Sayyid Badr
Published: 07:09 PM,Sep 11,2023 | EDITED : 11:09 AM,Sep 12,2023
Muscat: The G20 Summit in Delhi concluded on Sunday, and on that note Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy shared with the Observer the Sultanate of Oman’s experience.
During the high-profile event, Oman participated in nine ministerial meetings and 200 meetings and working groups.
“Reflecting on the conclusion of the G20 Summit, and looking back on a year of intensive engagement with the G20 process, we have learned a lot. Oman’s participation came as a result of the kind invitation of the Indian government,” Sayyid Badr noted.
He said that the summit has given an opportunity to broaden the scope and scale of Omani diplomacy in a multilateral environment, to a degree which has never been possible. The G20 comprises the 19 largest national economies plus the European Union, and in New Delhi, it has been decided to include the African Union as a member.
“This will give the Global South a bigger voice which is most welcome,” he pointed out.
“Given the diversity of the G20, it is a remarkable achievement that the New Delhi Declaration was agreed by consensus. In particular, I want to congratulate the current and future G20 presidencies: India, Brazil, and the United States, for their successful dialogue to reach this positive outcome.
'Oman has participated in over 200 meetings and working groups, nine of them at the ministerial level. I want to express my warm thanks to all the ministries and other government agencies who have worked hard to make this possible, not least my own hardworking team.”
Interestingly for Oman, G20 has brought focus on green hydrogen and major developments are expected in this field.
Sayyid Badr pointed out: “Oman has made substantive contributions to G20 working groups in agriculture, mining, tourism, and especially renewables including green hydrogen. Our green hydrogen initiatives are some of the largest and most advanced in the world. Our projects are seeking to integrate green hydrogen production with green steel factories, to build out sustainability more broadly into our economy.
'We therefore welcome the New Delhi Declaration, the announcement of the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre, tripling of renewable energy by 2030, setting up a global biofuels alliance, and moving the language on transition finance from billions to trillions.”
He said that these developments are the building blocks of a new global economy, and for Oman, they are the pillars on which Oman Vision 2040 can thrive.
With regard to climate change, the foreign minister said: “It is perhaps the most significant long-term challenge to our national security.”
“A successful transition to net zero, and the development of better technologies to make extreme weather more survivable, are both essential for our long-term future. Only concerted efforts by governments, financial institutions, and people everywhere will make it possible to manage the consequences of climate change. We must all adjust our habits and lifestyles to support a global drive towards achieving human development goals and sustainability by adopting green economic and green industrial solutions.
'It is my belief that India’s strong leadership of the G20 in 2023 has materially advanced this agenda. Now our attention must turn to COP28, where I am confident that our brothers and friends in the United Arab Emirates will deliver another successful summit with further positive outcomes,” said Sayyid Badr.
During the high-profile event, Oman participated in nine ministerial meetings and 200 meetings and working groups.
“Reflecting on the conclusion of the G20 Summit, and looking back on a year of intensive engagement with the G20 process, we have learned a lot. Oman’s participation came as a result of the kind invitation of the Indian government,” Sayyid Badr noted.
He said that the summit has given an opportunity to broaden the scope and scale of Omani diplomacy in a multilateral environment, to a degree which has never been possible. The G20 comprises the 19 largest national economies plus the European Union, and in New Delhi, it has been decided to include the African Union as a member.
“This will give the Global South a bigger voice which is most welcome,” he pointed out.
“Given the diversity of the G20, it is a remarkable achievement that the New Delhi Declaration was agreed by consensus. In particular, I want to congratulate the current and future G20 presidencies: India, Brazil, and the United States, for their successful dialogue to reach this positive outcome.
'Oman has participated in over 200 meetings and working groups, nine of them at the ministerial level. I want to express my warm thanks to all the ministries and other government agencies who have worked hard to make this possible, not least my own hardworking team.”
Interestingly for Oman, G20 has brought focus on green hydrogen and major developments are expected in this field.
Sayyid Badr pointed out: “Oman has made substantive contributions to G20 working groups in agriculture, mining, tourism, and especially renewables including green hydrogen. Our green hydrogen initiatives are some of the largest and most advanced in the world. Our projects are seeking to integrate green hydrogen production with green steel factories, to build out sustainability more broadly into our economy.
'We therefore welcome the New Delhi Declaration, the announcement of the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre, tripling of renewable energy by 2030, setting up a global biofuels alliance, and moving the language on transition finance from billions to trillions.”
He said that these developments are the building blocks of a new global economy, and for Oman, they are the pillars on which Oman Vision 2040 can thrive.
With regard to climate change, the foreign minister said: “It is perhaps the most significant long-term challenge to our national security.”
“A successful transition to net zero, and the development of better technologies to make extreme weather more survivable, are both essential for our long-term future. Only concerted efforts by governments, financial institutions, and people everywhere will make it possible to manage the consequences of climate change. We must all adjust our habits and lifestyles to support a global drive towards achieving human development goals and sustainability by adopting green economic and green industrial solutions.
'It is my belief that India’s strong leadership of the G20 in 2023 has materially advanced this agenda. Now our attention must turn to COP28, where I am confident that our brothers and friends in the United Arab Emirates will deliver another successful summit with further positive outcomes,” said Sayyid Badr.