NYC Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan attends Urban 20 meeting in Ahmedabad

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New York City Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan represented New York City at the Urban 20 meeting in Ahmedabad city, India in February 2023. Chauhan is the Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, Foreign Direct Investment and Innovation, in the Adams administration and was representing the Mayor and the City of New York in official capacity at this special preparatory meeting for the G20 meeting later this year.

Originally from Ahmedabad, Chauhan is also the first Indian American to hold this position in the Mayor’s office. In his office as the Deputy Director, Chauhan has been actively contributing to strengthening relationship with the South Asian community. Chauhan is the also Founding President of the ‘New York South Asian American Chamber of Commerce’.

U20 is a diplomacy initiative of cities from G20 countries. Formed in 1987, U20 strives to build a platform in close collaboration with local governments of the world. It proposes joint solutions to enhance climate action and sustainable economic development. It also explores synergies and contributes unique perspectives and good practices from cities. U20 works to influence G20 members to include strategic and urgent urban subjects in all G20 meetings.

The U20 brings together mayors from G20 cities under a common framework and coordinates a joint position to inform the discussions of national leaders. Contributions from the U20 are shared with the G20 Presidency and Heads of State, enhancing the role of cities as global economic and political leaders.

This year, Ahmedabad is the chair city hosting the 6^th inception meeting of the U20. Attended by emissaries from G20 countries, this first U20 meeting in February 2023, was a City Sherpa meeting. Later in mid-2023, U20 city representatives will also meet in Ahmedabad for the U20 Mayors Summit and present their joint recommendations to the government of India ahead of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, scheduled in September 2023 at New Delhi.

The meeting was attended by over 70 delegates from close to 40 cities and more than 200 participants from observer cities. U20 Conveners, representatives from various working groups and engagement groups of the G20, senior officials from government, national and international organizations and other invited guests also participated.

The inaugural session was attended by senior dignitaries from Government of India and Government of Gujarat. G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Ahmedabad Mayor Kiritkumar J. Parmar,  India’s Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Manoj Joshi, and Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel, spoke about urban achievements of Ahmedabad and made important suggestions.

Ahmedabad City Sherpa, Praveen Chaudhary, outlined six priority areas proposed by Ahmedabad city, 1. Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors, 2. Ensuring water security, 3, Accelerating climate finance, 4. Championing ‘local’ identity, 5, Reinventing frameworks for urban governance and planning, and 6. Catalyzing digital urban futures.

Government of Gujarat and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation officials presented a number of innovative initiatives implemented in Ahmedabad and other cities of Gujarat, including Sabarmati riverfront development, affordable housing initiatives, BRTS and metro rail, heritage management, and more.

Discussions on potential areas of convergence for infrastructure financing, improving disaster adaptation, mitigation and response in cities, and mainstreaming digital governance were held by the Infrastructure Working Group, Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group and Digital Economy Working Group.

Leaders of Startup 20, Youth 20 and Think 20 discussed the role cities can play in engaging the youth and creating opportunities for them, facilitating a robust startup ecosystem, and fostering innovative strategies in the areas of environment, climate finance, water security and digital governance.

U20 representatives also visited the Crafts Exhibition at the Taj Skyline Hotel and cultural sites including the Adalaj Vaav (stepwell). Ahmedabad has been declared a world heritage city by UNESCO.