Indian State Comes to Mexico to Learn and Share Experiences about Green Growth and Climate Change

Recently, an Indian delegation from the state of Himachal Pradesh came to Mexico to discuss, learn and share experiences about green growth and climate change policies and activities in Latin America’s second economy.

Up in the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is of major environmental importance for the neighboring States.

Three rivers flow through it to join the Indus, bringing water to more than 200 million people, and it is one of the country’s main sources of clean energy through hydropower.

That is why the state is working with the World Bank’s South Asia Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management unit on promoting inclusive green growth (economic growth that benefits everybody while respecting the environment) and transforming different areas, all key to its economy: energy, watershed management, industry and tourism.

Similar issues to tackle

The World Bank organized this trip to Mexico, designed as a mutual exchange of experiences. The delegation visited Oaxaca, one of the most biodiverse states in the country and home to a number of indigenous cultures.

The visitors also travelled to Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Peninsula, famous for its tourism opportunities, coral reefs and tropical forests.

Sudripta Roy, Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, underlined the similarities of the issues tackled in Mexico and back home.

“The same issues and problems, whether it is the felling of trees, greenhouse gas emissions or climate change. Mexico is affected because of floods and drought, we are having unseasonal rain and heavy snowfall,” he said.

“And so, we are trying to synergize how the issues are being tackled here,” he said, especially stressing the importance of working together with the communities.

Importance of a South-South dialogue

“These are the good practices that we are interested in looking at, and hopefully implement them back home,” Roy added,” And continue the dialogue, the relationship with the country, and probably ask them to come to our country and also see what we are doing.”

They had the chance to meet with several federal and state officials in different parts of Mexico. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary (Finance and Planning) of Himachal Pradesh, pointed out how important it is to have a South - South dialogue.

“Many times when one sees the Northern development studies, you find that it is not replicable in your place,” he explained, “But when you have a similar situation, like Mexico – a federal country, similar to India – when something is being done here, we can directly relate it to our situation and then find, ok, this is possible.”

Community Focus

Especially in tourism, there are many opportunities to discuss.

“It was very interesting“ said Subhasish Panda, Managing Director of the Tourism Development Corporation, Government of Himachal Pradesh, referring to the first meetings they had had in Mexico City.

“Mexico has taken some initiatives that could maybe be replicated in India”. However, the learning is mutual: “There are a couple of things that Mexico could pick up from India,” he said, giving the forest sector as an example.

“I’m looking at picking up certain aspects of tourism in Mexico,” he added, “where the communities or the stakeholders are involved in the process of promoting sustainable tourism and conserving the traditions and the culture.”

The World Bank in Mexico

The World Bank Group engagement with Mexico is structured around an innovative and thematic approach, for example in green growth, with a model that  provides customized development solutions to the country, using a package of financial, knowledge and convening services.