In a significant address at the Third Voice of Global South Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the importance of unity and cooperation among Global South nations. The summit, held virtually, marks a pivotal moment in addressing shared challenges and advancing collective progress.
Prime Minister Modi, representing the voice of 1.4 billion Indians, extended a warm welcome to all participating nations. Reflecting on the previous two summits, he emphasised the evolution of the G-20 under India's leadership, particularly the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member—a historic achievement that exemplifies India’s commitment to fostering inclusive development.
Addressing the current global climate marked by uncertainty, Modi highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change.
He pointed out the inadequacies of traditional global governance structures in tackling these issues and called for a unified approach from the Global South.
Modi’s speech focused on several key themes critical to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. He advocated for strengthening economic resilience by diversifying supply chains and production processes to mitigate risks highlighted by recent global disruptions.
Emphasising the need for low-cost financing and access to critical technologies, he urged Global South nations to collaborate closely on climate change and energy transitions.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of revitalising multilateralism and reforming Multilateral Development Banks through forums like the G-20.
He pointed out that the current global order has failed to address the challenges of the 21st century effectively and called for a reformed approach to multilateral cooperation.
Digital transformation was another critical area of focus. Modi highlighted India’s successful implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and proposed sharing the “India Stack” with Global South countries.
He announced the establishment of a Social Impact Fund, with an initial contribution of $25 million from India, to accelerate digital infrastructure development across the Global South.
Modi also touched upon India’s commitment to health security through its “One World-One Health” mission and the “Arogya Maitri” initiative, which has provided medical support to countries in Africa and the Pacific. He reiterated India’s role as a first responder in humanitarian crises, including conflicts and natural disasters.
Looking ahead, Modi stressed the significance of the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, where he hopes the Global South will have a strong voice in shaping the “Pact for the Future.” He urged participants to collectively advocate for their interests and work towards a better future.
In closing, Modi proposed a comprehensive “Global Development Compact” aimed at fostering trade, capacity building, technology sharing, and sustainable growth.
This initiative will be based on India’s development experiences and will prioritise human-centric, multi-dimensional approaches to development without burdening countries with debt.
The summit concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to addressing global challenges through unity and collaboration, with a focus on the shared experiences and aspirations of the Global South nations.
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