NewsGate Press Network

India will host a unique two-day virtual summit of over 120 developing countries on Monday in an attempt to bring closer all countries representing the Global South.

The agenda is to share common concerns, interests and perspectives relating to various global challenges including food and energy security triggered by the Ukraine conflict.

This special summit to be hosted by Prime Minister Narandra Modi has been christened as the ‘Voice of Global South Summit’.

Addressing media persons on Friday the January 6th 2023, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said more than 120 countries are being invited for the ‘Voice of Global South’ summit whose theme would be ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’.

At a media briefing, he said concerns and apprehensions of the developing countries often do not receive due attention at the global stage and the purpose of the summit would be to address these elements of “our concerns and priorities”.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, this Summit meeting of the Global South will further India’s ongoing Presidency of the G20 by providing a special and strong opportunity for those countries that are not part of the G20 process to share their ideas and expectations from the G20.

This is in line with Prime Minister’s statement that India’s G20 Presidency will be shaped in consultation with not just our G20 partners, but also our fellow-travellers in the Global South, whose voice often goes unheard, the statement added.

The Summit will have 10 sessions – Four sessions would be held on 12 January, and six sessions on 13 January. Each session is expected to witness the participation of Leaders/Ministers from 10-20 countries.

The inaugural and concluding sessions would be at Head of State / Government level, and hosted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The theme of the Inaugural Leaders’ session is “Voice of Global South – for Human-Centric Development” and that of the Concluding Leaders’ session is “Unity of Voice-Unity of Purpose”.

In addition, there would be 8 Ministerial sessions, with the following themes:

  • Finance Ministers’ Session on “Financing People-Centric Development”
    • Environment Ministers’ Session on “Balancing Growth with Environment Friendly Lifestyles (LiFE)”
    • Foreign Ministers’ Session on “Priorities of the Global South – Ensuring a Conducive Environment”
    • Energy Ministers’ Session on “Energy Security and Development- Roadmap to Prosperity”
    • Health Ministers’ Session on “Cooperation to Build Resilient Healthcare Systems”
    • Education Ministers’ Session on “Human Resource Development and Capacity Building”
    • Commerce and Trade Ministers’ Session on “Developing Synergies in the Global South – Trade, Technology, Tourism and Resources”
    • Foreign Ministers’ Session on “G-20: Suggestions for India’s Presidency”• Commerce and Trade Ministers’ Session on “Developing Synergies in the Global South – Trade, Technology, Tourism and Resources”
    • Foreign Ministers’ Session on “G-20: Suggestions for India’s Presidency”