Preparation for G-20 summit at Pittsburg in full swing

US President Barack Obama has invited leaders of top 20 economies to meet at Pittsburg in Pennsylvania to discuss the current global economic crisis and the progress made after the previous G-20 Summit in London in April.

Manmohan Singh is scheduled to attend the summit.

"The President and First Lady look forward to welcoming world leaders to the Pittsburgh Summit September 24-25," the White House said, adding that it is working closely with state and local officials to plan for a successful and productive meeting.

At the Pittsburgh Summit, President Obama and leaders representing 85 per cent of the world's economy will assess progress made since the Washington and London G-20 Summits and discuss further steps to achieve a sound and sustainable recovery from the global financial and economic crisis.

Countries and organisations participating in the Pittsburgh Summit would be having a tour of the David L Lawrence Convention Centre which will be the primary home of the summit and additional event sites today, the White House said.

The President and First Lady look forward to welcoming leaders, their spouses and officials to Pittsburgh at the city's Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
After welcoming the leaders and spouses, President Obama and world leaders will remain at the conservatory for a working dinner.  Known as "the Green Heart of Pittsburgh," Phipps' earth-sheltered Welcome Centre was the first LEED-certified building in a public garden.

Its newest addition, the Tropical Forest Conservatory, is the world's most energy efficient conservatory and is the only conservatory powered by a solid oxide fuel cell.

Demonstrating the possibilities presented by employing new and innovative technology to further economic recovery and development, the Pittsburgh Summit will be held at the David L Lawrence Convention Centre in downtown Pittsburgh.

The facility was the first "green" convention centre in the world to be awarded the LEEDR Gold Certification by the US Green Building Council for leadership in energy and environmental design.

The First Lady, the White House said, is also looking forward to welcoming and hosting the Pittsburgh Summit spousal program.  Following the leaders reception, the programme will kick off with a private dinner for spouses at the farm of well known Pittsburgh philanthropist Teresa Heinz.

The farm is set in the rolling hills just outside of Pittsburgh and will serve as a beautiful and intimate place for the spouses to gather.

Stemming from the White House's commitment to and encouragement of arts education for young people, the First Lady will share with her counterparts the outstanding arts education opportunities afforded to the students of Pittsburgh.

The group will tour and view a performance at the Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 school, located in downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. CAPA, a Creative & Performing Arts public magnet school, enrolls more than 800 full time students who major in dance, instrumental music, vocal music, literary arts, theatre and visual arts. CAPA's vision, "excellence for all in the arts and academic areas," is supported by their state of the art facilities and the latest technology.

The Andy Warhol Museum, located on the north shore of Pittsburgh, will be the setting for a luncheon hosted by the First Lady.

The Warhol Museum, one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, houses the definitive collection of art and archives from the renowned 20th century artist Andy Warhol, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh.