Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) is not merely a grouping of three nations but an important platform linking three continents, three major democracies, and three major economies. He said, the three countries can complement each other’s development and set an example for sustainable growth. Speaking at the IBSA Leaders’ Meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi highlighted cooperation opportunities in millets, natural farming, disaster resilience, green energy, traditional medicine, and health security.
The Prime Minister called the meeting timely as it coincided with the first-ever G20 Summit on African soil and capped four consecutive G20 presidencies by Global South nations, with the last three being led by IBSA members. He said, this has contributed to several key initiatives focused on human-centric development, multilateral reform, and sustainable growth.
Prime Minister Modi said that today’s global institutions do not match the needs of the 21st century. He urged IBSA to clearly say that reforming global bodies-especially the UN Security Council-is not optional but necessary.
On counter-terrorism, he underscored the need for close coordination and said, there must be zero tolerance for double standards in combating terrorism.
Emphasizing the role of technology in human-centric development, Prime Minister Modi proposed an ‘IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance’ to facilitate the sharing of Digital Public Infrastructure such as UPI, health platforms like CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led technology initiatives among the three nations.
The Prime Minister also highlighted IBSA’s role in shaping safe, trustworthy, and human-centric AI norms. He invited leaders to the AI Impact Summit to be held in India next year.
Acknowledging the IBSA Fund’s work in supporting projects across 40 countries in sectors including education, health, women empowerment, and solar energy, Prime Minister Modi proposed establishing an IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture to strengthen South-South cooperation.
The meeting was hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva along with Prime Minister Modi.
