Anurag Thakur Reviews Arrangements at International Media Centre Ahead of G20 Summit

New Delhi, 5th September 2023: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, visited the International Media Centre to assess the readiness and arrangements for the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit. 

The Summit is scheduled to take place from September 9th to 10th, 2023, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. During his visit, Minister Thakur received a comprehensive tour of the Media Control Room (MCR), Studios, Production Control Room (PCR), Public Query Room (PQR), and the social media room at the venue.

Speaking at the venue, Thakur expressed India’s enthusiasm for hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit. He revealed that more than 200 meetings had been conducted across over 60 cities in India, with an overwhelmingly positive response. He emphasized the historic scale of organizing this event and expressed optimism that the Leaders’ Summit would leave a significant mark in history.

Regarding the arrangements at the International Media Centre, the Minister highlighted its world-class facilities, showcasing the strength of New India. The facility’s walls are adorned with pieces of art and culture from India, creating an enriching atmosphere. Importantly, the Media Centre is conveniently located adjacent to Bharat Mandapam, the Summit’s main venue.

Minister Thakur also shared that the primary media centre, named “Himalaya,” can accommodate over 300 journalists. He noted that India’s global recognition for its digital payment system would be demonstrated in the pavilions here.

“India will proudly showcase its rich culture and heritage during the Summit while projecting the image of a New India,” said the Minister when discussing India’s presentation during the event.

Highlighting the scale of the G20 event, which will host a vast gathering of media personnel from across the world, Minister Thakur extended a warm welcome to the global media fraternity. He commended Doordarshan for its elaborate setup for the event’s telecast, featuring over 78 UHD and 4K cameras at various locations from the airport to Bharat Mandapam. Clean feeds will be provided to all media outlets.

Background:

Extensive preparations have been made to facilitate media coverage at the venue. The Main Summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam, with the International Media Centre (IMC) located nearby in Hall No. 4 and 5 of the International Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) Complex in New Delhi.

Official programs, including arrivals, departures, opening and closing ceremonies, bilateral meetings, spouses’ programs, and engagements at Raj Ghat, will be exclusively covered by Doordarshan and Official Foreign Media. Clean feeds will be available to all.

The IMC can host over 2000 media delegates and offers a wide range of facilities. Access to the IMC is restricted to accredited media personnel, verified through online accreditation.

IMC facilities include over 1300 workstations with internet connectivity and printers, high-speed WIFI, an International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for clean feeds, small media booths, one-to-one interview rooms, media briefing rooms, live stand-up positions, media lounges, information kiosks, help desks, a medical room, and a variety of dining options. Additionally, there are 1400 parking spaces, and more than 80 shuttle buses will run between JLN and IMC.

Furthermore, several exhibitions will be open for media visits, including RBI’s Digital Innovation Pavilion, the “Mother of Democracy” video exhibition, and the “Digital India Immersive Experience” by MeITY.

India is hosting the G20 Presidency under the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future” since December 1, 2022. Over 220 meetings have been held in more than 60 cities across India, involving thousands of delegates from Member countries, invited countries, and international organizations.

India’s G20 presidency emphasizes widespread participation, with the entire nation, government, and its 1.4 billion people playing the role of hosts. This event is expected to draw one of the largest gatherings of media, both domestic and global.