India is showcasing its G20 presidency with a big flourish, with world leaders converging at New Delhi for the G20 Summit on September 9-10. Aside from the discussions around global diplomacy and economics, the art and culture and crafts and skills of India will be front and centre at G20. Press Trust of India reports that silverware with Indian motifs will be used to serve grand meals to the VVIP guests.
Among heads of state attending G20 are: President of the United States of America Joe Biden; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; French President Emmanuel Macron; Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan; Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida; South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol; South African President Cyril Ramaphosa; Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Russia and China will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Premier Li Qiang, instead of President Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping, respectively.
On the sidelines of the core G20 Summit, there is also going to be a G20 Crafts Bazaar, which will “bring together handicraft items from across India under one roof with a special focus on the One District One Product initiative”, according to a post on the social network X.
“Leaders, delegates and accredited media persons from across the world will witness the exquisite skill and craftsmanship of Indian artisans,” said the post.
The bespoke silverware for the VVIP luncheons and dinners will be supplied by a Jaipur-based metalware firm, named Iris Jaipur. The silverware will have intricately engraved motifs inspired by the cultural heritage of India.
Most of the tableware had a steel or brass base or a mix of both with an elegant coating of silver, while some wares like plates that would carry glasses to be used for serving welcome drinks had gold plating, said Laksh Pabuwal of the silverware firm, speaking to PTI.
About 15,000 pieces of silverware crafted by 200 artisans had been made on the occasion of the G20 Summit, he said. Some 50,000 man-hours have been spent on crafting these by artisans from Jaipur, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and other parts of the country.
Rajeev Pabuwal of the Jaipur firm said, “Earlier, we used to import goods from other countries, but all this silverware has been designed and made in India itself. It is a really good effort to promote ‘Make in India’ and ‘Made in India.’”
—With inputs from the Press Trust of India