We are gathered here to review the G20@20 as well as reflect on the South African Presidency’s deliverables.
2.? Some thoughts have been shared on the former in the last Session. Let me just underline that as we enter the second cycle, G20 must retain its leadership. To do that, it must be accurately reflective of global challenges in their entirety. This includes food, energy and health security, establishing digital public infrastructure, and promoting women led development. And G20 must always put the imperatives of collaboration higher than the compulsions of competition.
3.? We are supportive of the priorities of the South African Presidency. They jell with what India has advocated both nationally as well as during its own G20 Presidency.
4.? On international disaster response, we support strong frameworks for preparedness, emergency response, recovery and reconstruction. India initiated the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in 2019. Today, it has 42 nations and 7 organizations as its members. During our G20 Presidency, we established a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group which focused on financing. Our commitment in this domain will remain strong.
5.? On debt sustainability for low-income nations, we support comprehensive frameworks that balance development needs with fiscal sustainability. We look forward to receiving more specifics of the South African initiative. The MDB reform roadmap whose fashioning began during India’s Presidency is also relevant in this regard.
6.? On financing for a Just Energy Transition, India has always believed that it must be affordable and equitable, while considering the growth imperatives and differentiated responsibilities of developing countries. Here again, the initiative of the International Solar Alliance underlines India’s commitment to global collaboration on climate action. The Global BioFuels Alliance also merits your collective coordination. Their positive results are already visible.
7.? For critical minerals and inclusive growth, we support creating transparent and resilient supply chains, cooperation in geological exploration, sustainable mining practices and transfer of relevant technologies. We recognize that this has a special potential for growth in Africa.
8.? South Africa’s endeavour to address through task forces the challenges of inclusive economic growth, food security and AI for sustainable development are commendable. In India, these domains are very much at the core of our human-centric policies.
9.? Colleagues, it has been fortuitous that four developing countries have had back-to-back Presidencies as we complete the first cycle. This has allowed developmental issues to maintain their salience in the global agenda. I am confident that as South Africa’s Presidency advances, we will collectively strive to ensure that the world has good reason to look to us in providing leadership and solutions on the key issues of our times.
Johannesburg
February 21, 2025
