Johannesburg/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, laid out a comprehensive vision to reshape global governance through inclusive, human-centric and future-ready frameworks. Congratulating South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for a “successful and impactful presidency,” PM Modi appreciated the host country’s leadership on priorities such as AI, skilled migration, food security, digital innovation, tourism and women-led development.
India Calls for Reimagining Global Development Metrics
PM Modi said that while the G20 has historically guided global finance and economic growth, current development indicators have failed to prevent resource inequality and environmental strain—issues disproportionately impacting Africa.
He urged nations to evolve development frameworks rooted in harmony between people, society and nature, drawing on India’s civilizational philosophy of Integral Humanism, which sees human beings and the environment as interconnected.
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Proposal for a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository
Emphasising the value of cultural wisdom preserved by traditional communities worldwide, PM Modi proposed the creation of a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20 framework.
He said India’s Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) platform can serve as the foundation to preserve indigenous knowledge, environmental practices and cultural traditions for future generations.
G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative Announced
Strengthening India’s long-standing partnership with Africa, PM Modi unveiled the G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative, a large-scale capacity-building programme.
Key features:
- Based on a train-the-trainer model
- Supported and financed collectively by G20 partners
- Aims to train one million certified trainers in Africa in ten years
- Trainers will then skill millions of African youth
The Prime Minister said this initiative will help build sustainable manpower strength across sectors, driving long-term economic resilience in Africa.
Proposal for a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team
Highlighting the need for swift global action during pandemics or natural disasters, PM Modi proposed the establishment of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team.
The team would include –
- Rapid-deployment medical professionals
- Trained experts from G20 nations
- Capability to respond immediately to cross-border health crises
He said this must become a “shared global responsibility” to prevent future humanitarian emergencies.
PM Warns Against the Growing Drug–Terror Nexus
Calling drug trafficking a major threat to global security, PM Modi highlighted the spread of highly dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl.
He proposed the G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug–Terror Nexus, focusing on coordinated:
- Financial tracking
- Governance systems
- Security mechanisms
A unified response, he said, is crucial to dismantle the international drug-terror ecosystem.
Strengthening the Voice of the Global South
PM Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to the Global South, noting that the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent G20 member during the New Delhi Summit was a landmark achievement.
He urged global institutions to amplify the concerns of developing nations and to ensure that global progress protects both people and the planet.
He emphasized that India–Africa solidarity remains central to global peace, climate resilience and equitable development.
