SAI Model United Nations Conference 2020 (eSAIMUN), the annual Model United Nations (MUN) of SAI International School commenced on Thursday, August 13, 2020, adopting the digital route. The 8^th edition of SAIMUN is being participated by 750 delegates from 34 schools, across nine countries of the globe like Australia, Japan, UAE, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, USA and India. The young students began their deliberation on several contemporary global issues in twenty different committees.
 The inaugural session of eSAIMUN 2020 was graced by Ambassador Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative, U.S. Mission to the United Nations at New York, Mr Joel Reifman, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, Mr Daniel Sim, Deputy Consul General, Australian Consulate in Kolkata, Mr Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata, and Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder and Mentor SAI International Education Group & Advisor and Working President of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan, Government of Odisha as the key note speakers.
The session was introduced by Secretary General SAIMUN 2020 Anurag Patnaik, who spoke about the significance of the two-day conference that aims to develop a culture of Internationalism, cooperation, tolerance as well as inculcate the art of diplomacy and team spirit to spread global peace.
Dr. Sahoo briefed on the purpose of eSAIMUN and provided insight on how technology aided in uninterrupted learning during pandemic. He said that the pandemic is a challenge thrown to the humanity to re-think and rediscover that is yet untouched and unexplored, to make learning more meaningful.
The opening session was graced with as inspiring video message by Secretary-General to the United Nations, H.E.  António Guterres, who spoke on the importance of sustainable development for the future in all countries.
Ambassador Kelly Craft highlighted that United Nations is built on the foundation of human dignity, neighborliness, cooperation and global unity. In her address to the delegates, she said that humanitarian challenges can be addressed by the young minds. Mr Nick Low stressed on building cooperation and comprehensiveness between countries with the blend of technology and global community. Mr. Reifman spoke on current international challenges, emerging global problems, foreign interest and global usage of outer space. He added that MUN will help delegates to realize their strength in debating and to find out solutions for a better world. Mr Sim encouraged students to hone their skills of team work, problem solving and negotiation as well as develop international relationships during SAIMUN.
Shri Nilakantha Panigrahi, Senior Principal, SAI International School thanked the dignitaries for their profound words and wished the virtual edition of SAI Model United Nations Conference a grand success.
The first ever eSAIMUN was more dynamic and intellectually stimulating event and will bring about a prolific change in the learning horizon of all the participants. 
This year, the students discussed, delved and deliberated on global issues in twenty different committees including United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), United Nations General Assembly – Disarmament & International Security (UNGA-DISEC), United Nations Security Council (UNSC), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Social Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM),United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL), United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
To commemorate the 75^th anniversary of United Nations and to strengthen the eight years of partnership with UNIC, a special plenary session was organised at eSAIMUN 2020. The session was facilitated by Shri Rajiv Chandran, National Information Officer (and currently Officer-in-Charge) at the United Nations Office in India and Bhutan.
SAIMUN is a duly accredited registered event of United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan (UNIC), under the aegis of the United Nations (UN). Initiated in the year 2013, the maiden event of SAIMUN was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik.