Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a profound rethinking of global development parameters. Addressing the first session of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, Mr. Modi noted that while the G20 has long shaped global finance and growth, prevailing models have deprived large populations of resources and driven the over-exploitation of nature, challenges felt acutely in Africa. He also noted that some historic decisions from the New Delhi Summit have been carried forward.
He appreciated the South African presidency’s work in skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women’s empowerment, and called for greater representation of the Global South in global governance structures.
He highlighted the concept of Integral Humanism, rooted in India’s civilisational wisdom, as a guiding principle to harmonise progress with the planet.
Giving shape to the vision of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, he also presented four key proposals during his remarks.
Mr. Modi proposed for establishing a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20. Built on the Indian Knowledge Systems, this initiative would served a global platform for traditional knowledge and help preserve humanity collective wisdom for future generations.
The Prime Minister proposed a G20 Africa-Skills Multiplier Initiative, aimed at preparing one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade and enable large-scale skill development through a train-the-trainers model across multiple sectors-boosting local capacity and long-term development.
He also proposed the creation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, emphasising the need for trained medical experts from G20 countries who can be rapidly deployed during health emergencies and natural disasters. This, he said, would strengthen global health security and emergency response capacities.
In order to address the growing threat of drug trafficking, including dangerous substances such as fentanyl, he suggested launching a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus.
This highlights addressing drug trafficking as a threat to public health, stability and security, while also bringing together financial governance and security tools for effective actions and target a major source of Terror financing.
The Prime Minister further urged member nations to work together to dismantle this destructive economy. This is the first time that G20 Summit is being held in Africa.
