Amitabh Kant - Former Niti Aayog CEO is India's new G20 Sherpa

Amitabh Kant - Former Niti Aayog CEO is India's new G20 Sherpa

As India takes over the G20 Presidency later this year, Amitabh Kant – the Former Niti Aayog CEO has been appointed as the new G20 Sherpa. He would replace Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The Sherpas are responsible for carrying out negotiations and building consensus among Leaders. Additionally, they are also responsible for convening working groups, and special events throughout the year.

For almost six years, the Kerala cadre IAS officer was Niti Aayog CEO. His extended tenure completed last month.

G20 is a grouping of 19 major developed and emerging economies and the European Union. Its members account for more than 80% of global GDP, 75% of global trade, and 60% of the global population.

India will take over G20 Presidency from Indonesia on December 2 and therefore there was a need for a full-time Sherpa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been leading India's representation at the G20 Summit since he took office in 2014.

Amitabh Kant currently serves as a Director in the board of the National Highways Authority of India, Member of the Digital Communications Commission of India, Director of the Board of the India International Convention Centre, member of the National Statistical Commission of India, Member of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) and the Chairman of the Executive Council of the National Institute of Labour Economics, Research and Development.

In the past, Amitabh Kant has worked as Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Chairman & CEO, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corporation, CMD – ITDC, Joint Secretary – Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Secretary – Tourism, Government of Kerala, Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, District Collector, Kozikhode and Managing Director, Matsyafed.

Kant has received a number of recognitions for his work in the field of governance. He received the Economic Times Policy Change Agent of the Year Award, the Bloomberg TV Personality of the year Award and the Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors. He is also the recipient of One Globe Award-2016 for leadership in Transforming Governance for the 21st Century.

Amitabh Kant is also the recipient of Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship awarded by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is a Member of the Steering Board of "Shaping the Future of Production Systems" of World Economic Forum. He is also the recipient of Golden Peacock Award for Leadership in Economic Transformation-2017.