New Delhi : Addressing the first session of the G20 Summit held in South Africa today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President Ramaphosa for the excellent organization and successful presidency of the G20 Summit. He said that under South Africa’s presidency, commendable work has been done on issues such as skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation, and women’s empowerment.
PM Modi said that the historic initiatives taken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been taken forward here.
He said that over the past several decades, the G20 has shaped global finance and global economic growth. However, the parameters of growth that have been worked on so far have left a large population deprived of resources. Furthermore, they have also encouraged the over-exploitation of nature. Africa is a major sufferer of this. Today, as Africa hosts the G20 Summit for the first time, we must rethink the parameters of development.
Prime Minister Modi stated that one path lies in India’s civilizational values. That path is Integral Humanism. This means we must view humans, society, and nature as an integrated whole. Only then will harmony between progress and nature be possible.
He noted that there are many communities around the world that have preserved their traditional and eco-balanced lifestyles. These traditions reflect not only sustainability but also cultural wisdom, social cohesion, and a deep respect for nature.
He suggested that India proposes to establish a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository within the G20. India’s Indian Knowledge Systems initiative could serve as its foundation. This global platform will help transmit humanity’s collective wisdom to future generations.
He emphasized that Africa’s development and empowering its young talent is in the global interest. Therefore, India proposes the G20-Africa Skills Multiplier initiative. This could operate under a “train-the-trainers” model for various sectors. All G20 partners can finance and support it.
Addressing the leaders of the G20 countries, PM Modi reminded them that our collective goal is to train one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. These trainers will, in turn, train millions of skilled youth. This initiative will have a multiplier effect. It will build local capacity and strengthen Africa’s long-term development.
Discussing health and natural disasters, the PM said that addressing the crisis of health emergencies and natural disasters is also our collective responsibility. Therefore, India proposes the formation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, consisting of trained medical experts from G20 countries. This team should be prepared for rapid deployment in case of any global health crisis or natural disaster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also drew attention to the problem of drug trafficking at the conference. He stated that highly lethal drugs, especially fentanyl, are spreading rapidly. This poses a serious challenge to public health, social stability, and global security. It is also a major means of financing terrorism.
He proposed that to effectively combat this global threat, India proposes a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus. Under this initiative, we can bring together various instruments related to finance, governance, and security. Only then can the drug-terror economy be weakened.
PM Modi said that India-Africa solidarity has always been strong. The African Union’s permanent membership of this group during the New Delhi Summit was a major initiative. Now, it is essential that this spirit expands beyond the G20. We must work together to ensure that the voice of the Global South is amplified in all global institutions.