Members of the G20 convened virtually under the Presidency of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss how global digital response needs to be coordinated to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for more resilient systems and security measures to strengthen and support businesses and creating secured data exchange systems.

The Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad was also present at this meeting virtually. At the meeting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasised that all the member nations together need to take on the responsibility to build digital platforms that an equitable, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the future to challenges such as the current pandemic.

The minister went on to highlight the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in helping India contain the spread of the pandemic. He spoke about initiatives like Aarogya Setu mobile app, a geo-fencing system for monitoring quarantined patients and COVID-19 Savdhan bulk messaging systems during the meeting. He shared a road map for countries to emulate. However, he also emphasised how the approach to fight the pandemic and revive the economy of the country needs to be parallel.

Sharing India's plan for the future digitisation, Shri Ravi Prasad Shankar said that in the coming years, India will focus on creating applications that will impact livelihoods, accelerate various sectors, strengthen the supply chain and build a cyber safe world.

The G20 gathering further discussed the need for digital economies to work towards achieving the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals; discussed human-centred and trustworthy artificial intelligence, smart cities, data flows, security in the digital economy, measurement of the digital economy, and global connectivity.