NEW DELHI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Sunday shared highlights of his ongoing visit to Johannesburg for the G20 Summit, describing his discussions and engagements with global leaders as “productive”.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “Yesterday’s proceedings at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg were fruitful. I took part in two sessions and shared my views on key issues. Also had productive meetings with many world leaders. Watch the highlights…”
During his address at the summit, PM Modi pushed for sustainable and inclusive global development. He said existing growth parameters have deprived large sections of the world of resources and led to the overexploitation of nature.
Also Read | G20 summit: PM Modi calls for global fight against drug-terror nexus PM Modi highlighted the need to adopt “integral humanism” — a development approach that views individuals, society and nature as one integrated system.
The Prime Minister made four major proposals, including a coordinated global effort to dismantle the drug-terror nexus. Calling drug trafficking a threat to public health, security and a source of terrorism financing he urged G20 nations to strengthen instruments related to finance, governance and security to counter the growing menace.
Focusing on Africa’s development, PM Modi proposed a ‘G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative’ to empower young talent across the continent through a “train-the-trainer” model. The initiative aims to prepare one million certified trainers over the next decade to help boost local capacity and job creation.
He also called for the creation of a global repository of traditional knowledge to preserve indigenous wisdom for future generations. The Prime Minister further suggested forming a global health response team to ensure swift action during pandemics and natural disasters.
In the second session of the summit, PM Modi highlighted the increasing frequency of natural disasters and stressed the need for stronger international cooperation. He highlighted that India formed the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group during its 2023 G20 presidency and welcomed South Africa’s focus on the issue this year.
Proposing a shift from a “response-centric” to a “development-centric” approach to resilience, he said efforts must link nutrition, public health, sustainable agriculture and disaster preparedness to build a secure global system.
With a focus on energy transition and climate action, the Prime Minister unveiled the ‘G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative’. He said innovations such as recycling, urban mining and second-life batteries can reduce supply chain pressure and support clean energy goals.
Promoting space technology for development, PM Modi proposed a ‘G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership’, which would make satellite data from member nations more accessible for agriculture, fisheries and disaster management, particularly in the Global South.
He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to food security and climate action, citing domestic achievements such as the world’s largest food and health security programmes, as well as India’s global push to promote millets.
PM Modi lauded South Africa’s presidency for advancing key issues including skilled migration, digital economy, AI, food security and women’s empowerment. He also stressed the importance of giving the Global South a stronger voice in global governance and said the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 was a major step in that direction.
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi also met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and French President Emmanuel Macron.
This year’s summit marked the first time the G20 was hosted on the African continent. India, Brazil and Indonesia all nations from the Global South have held the last three presidencies.
The visit marks PM Modi’s fourth official trip to South Africa, following his earlier engagements for the
BRICS Summits in 2018 and 2023 and a bilateral visit in 2016, underlining the deepening relationship between the two nations.
PM Modi is in South Africa from November 21 to 23 to participate in the G20 Summit 2025.
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