By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought greater voice for the Global South in global governance structures, during his address at two sessions in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
He took part in the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by the President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. This was Prime Minister’s 12th participation in G20 Summits.
Modi addressed both the sessions of the opening day of the Summit.
He thanked President Ramaphosa for his warm hospitality and for successfully hosting the Summit.
Modi noted that the inclusion of the African union as a permanent member of G20 in the New Delhi Summit was a major step forward and this inclusive spirit must also be taken beyond G20.
PM appreciated the work done by the group under the South African presidency in the areas of skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women empowerment in his address at the Opening Session on “Inclusive and sustainable economic growth leaving no one behind”.
He noted that some of the historic decisions taken during the New Delhi Summit have been carried forward.
PM emphasized that it was time to look at new parameters of development, one which addressed imbalance of growth and over exploitation of nature, particularly when the G20 Summit was being held for the first time in Africa.
He noted that the idea of “Integral Humanism” based on India’s civilizational wisdom must be explored. Integral Humanism, he expanded, takes a holistic view of humans, society and nature and that is how harmony between progress and planet could be achieved.
He elaborated India’s approach to growth, development and well-being for all, Prime Minister proposed six ideas for the G20 to consider.
They are:
* Creation of a G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository: This would harness collective wisdom of humanity for the benefit of future generations.
* Creation of a G20 Africa Skills Multiplier: This program would aim to create a pool of one million certified trainers for skilling the youth in Africa. This would create local capacities and foster long-term development in the continent
* Creation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team: This would comprise healthcare experts from each of the G20 countries and could be deployed to deal with global health challenges in any part of the world.
* Establish a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership: Through this program satellite data of G-20 Space agencies would be made available to developing countries for agriculture, fisheries, disaster management, among other activities.
* Creation of a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative: This initiative would foster recycling, urban mining, second-life battery projects and innovation of various types, and help in strengthening supply chain security, and develop cleaner pathways of development.
* Creation of a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug Terror Nexus: This would address drug trafficking, , including of fentanyl, and break the drug-terror economy.
Mr. Modi addressed a session on “A Resilient World- G20 Contribution to Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transition; Food Systems”.
He appreciated that the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group initiated by India is being taken forward.
Modi noted that the approach to disaster resilience should be “development-centric”, rather than “response-centric” as exemplified in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure set up by India.
He called for greater collective action on climate agenda to strengthen food security. In this context, he noted the value of millets in promoting nutritional security and environmental sustainability.
PM highlighted the Deccan Principles on Food Security adopted during India’s presidency, he noted that such an approach should become the basis for creating a G20 roadmap on food security.
He called upon developed countries to meet their climate action commitments on providing affordable finance and technology to developing countries in a time bound manner.
PM Modi interacted with several world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Summit today.
