G20 Digital ministers calls for coordinated global Digital response to fight COVID-19

While attending an G20 Digital Economy Ministers meeting to discuss the challenges posed by the pandemic, Communications and Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized on the responsibility of G20 nations to focus on making inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

New DelhiCOVID- 19 outbreak has increased digital dependency globally and new digital transformations has increased security considerations.

Union minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad is emphasizing on finding 'opportunity' in adversity and making India a leader in Electronics manufacturing.

G20 Digital ministers had meeting video conferencing on Thursday and G20 Digital Economy Task Force COVID-19 Ministerial Statement calls for a coordinated global Digital response to fight the pandemic, adopting measures to strengthen Communication infrastructure and network connectivity, Non-personal data exchange in a secured manner, use of Digital Solutions for Healthcare, cyber secured world and measures to strengthen resilience of businesses.

Meeting was convened on Thursday to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and to forge a global coordinated response harnessing Digital Technologies.

India was represented by Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & IT Ravi Shankar Prasad. The meeting was also attended by Digital Ministers of 19 other G20 Members, invited countries and International Organisations.

At the meeting, G20 Digital Ministers agreed to leverage the potential of Digital medium to contain the pandemic and protect people.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized that G20 nations have a responsibility that everything we do during and after this crisis must be with a strong focus on building more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of the ongoing pandemic. He also emphasized the importance to revive the economy while continuing the fight against COVID-19.

Ravi Shankar Prasad impressed upon the G20 Ministers that the present situation demands greater collaboration among stakeholders for providing solutions that can address issues related to social distancing, distributed workforce and the changing nature of global supply chain.

He called on the G20 to come out with a concrete Digital action plan to fight the global pandemic. He highlighted the critical role of Indian IT-ITeS Industry in maintaining the Global Business Continuity and offered India as a lucrative destination for displaced Global Supply chains.