New Delhi: India on Thursday said it is looking forward to a productive and meaningful G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg later this week, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to participate in discussions that will place stronger emphasis on concerns of the Global South.
Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters that the summit offers India an opportunity to maintain continuity of its priorities following its successful G20 presidency in 2023. Describing the forum as a key platform for international economic cooperation, he noted that the G20 brings together major and emerging economies that collectively account for over 85 per cent of global GDP and roughly three-quarters of the world’s population.
Prime Minister Modi will visit Johannesburg from November 21–23 at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit. This marks the fourth consecutive G20 summit hosted in the Global South and the first to be held on African soil. It will also be Modi’s fourth official visit to South Africa, following a bilateral trip in 2016 and his participation in the BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023.
According to the MEA, Modi will present India’s views across all three summit sessions. The discussions will cover:
• Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth — focusing on economies, trade, development financing and debt challenges;
• A Resilient World — covering disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions and food systems;
• A Fair and Just Future for All — including critical minerals, decent work and artificial intelligence.
Dalela said South Africa has defined four priorities for its G20 presidency: strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilising financing for a just energy transition and harnessing critical minerals for sustainable development.
He highlighted how India’s 2023 presidency established a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, signalling India’s commitment to the issue. South Africa, he said, has continued this momentum while also carrying forward dialogue on food security through its Task Force on Food Security.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with attending leaders and take part in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting hosted by South Africa.
Dalela noted that the Johannesburg Summit will conclude a sequence of G20 presidencies led by emerging economies—Indonesia, India, Brazil and now South Africa. Together, he said, these presidencies have helped bring greater attention to the needs and challenges of the Global South.
