Ladakh is all set to wear a new look and get a facelift ahead of the G-20 meeting to be held in Ladakh later this year after India assumed the G20 Presidency on the 1st of December last year from Indonesia.

A preparatory meeting was held in this regard at the Civil Secretariat, Leh under the Chairmanship of Advisor Ladakh, Umang Narula on February 9.

Advisor Narula impressed upon the officials to ensure that all arrangements are made promptly. He reiterated the local Ladakhi culture and traditions should be made integral to the preparation for holding the G20 meeting. Along with this, the Advisor emphasised putting in place adequate security arrangements and also instructed the officials to earmark necessary medical facilities to deal with any kind of emergency at all locations.

Divisional Commissioner and G-20 Nodal Officer in Ladakh, Saugat Biswas apprised the meeting about the preparations for the hosting of the G20 delegation. He informed that the G-20 delegates will be greeted with folk songs and traditional dances upon their arrival at the Kushok Bakula Rinpoche airport at Leh which is India’s highest civil airport. Further, he shared that the city will be given a facelift, which includes improving the road infrastructure and beautifying the footpaths, incorporating artwork on the walls, installing banners, flags, and posters on the airport road and across important venues, public places, and tourist places.  He further informed that refurbishing signages, beautifying the Leh Bazaar, installing public art and sculptures at important locations, and illuminating iconic buildings, among others, will also be done. Flower pots and planters will be used by the horticulture department for the decoration of the city, he added. 

Divisional Commissioner, shared that E-buses enabled with wi-fi will be deployed for the delegates to commute. For marketing the local products, the Industries and Commerce Department will set up village haat at various locations. Special emphasis will be placed on exhibiting women-led developmental initiatives during the event at various venues.

The School Education department will hold essay competitions, lectures, etc, as part of people’s participation in the G-20 event.

G20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union.