PM proposes new growth initiatives at G-20

PM proposes new growth initiatives at G-20

South Africa hosts G-20 gathering, a first by an African country; U.S. boycotts meet Modi announces partnership with Australia and Canada on technology and innovation World Leaders adopt declaration calling for strong measures to counter climate change Global parameters of growth need to be reconsidered, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, addressing the G-20 summit in Johannesburg, where he proposed new initiatives to balance growth and promote the political philosophy of “integral humanism”.

Leaders also adopted the G-20 declaration on the first day of the two-day summit, calling for strong measures to counter climate change.

Mr. Modi also held talks with a number of leaders present, announcing a new Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership after a trilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The initiative will deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, resilient supply chains, clean energy, and artificial intelligence between “democratic partners across three continents and three oceans”, Mr. Modi said in a post.

He also held talks on the sidelines of the event with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

He greeted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He also met briefly with leaders of the U.K., Italy, France, Brazil, Angola, and Singapore.

U.S. boycott

This is the first time the G-20 grouping of the world’s largest economies has been hosted in an African country.

However, the Summit was marked by the boycott of the United States, which did not send a leader to the event due to tense ties with South Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would hand over the G-20 Presidency to an “empty chair” on Sunday, though a U.S. diplomat will attend the function, and U.S. President Donald Trump plans to host the G-20 in 2026.

“The parameters of growth on which the world has worked so far have left a large section of the population deprived of resources. They have also contributed to the over-exploitation of nature,” Mr. Modi said at the first session on Saturday.

“Today, as Africa hosts the G-20 Summit for the first time, it is imperative for us to reconsider the parameters of development,” he added.

In his speech, the Prime Minister proposed the creation of a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository at the G-20, which would help transmit sustainable, and “eco-balanced ways of life” to future generations.

Mr. Modi also said that the philosophy of “integral Humanism” provided “one pathway” for the future.

The reference to the philosophy propounded by Jana Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyay in 1965 is significant, as it has been adopted by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its “basic philosophy” in its political manifesto, and is considered a counter to “Western” political ideologies like “secularism, individualism and communism”. It is not, however, an official policy.

Skill development

He also said India was prepared to impart skill development to “one million” people across the African continent as part of a G-20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative, and also develop a G-20 Global Healthcare Response Team, and a G-20 Initiative on Countering the Drug–Terror Nexus.

“Another critical issue is drug trafficking, particularly the rapid spread of highly lethal substances like fentanyl. This has emerged as a serious challenge to public health, social stability, and global security. It also serves as a significant channel for financing terrorism,” Mr. Modi said.

At a second session, he also proposed a G-20 Open Satellite Data Partnership to share agriculture, fishing and disaster-related information, as well as a G-20 Critical Minerals Circularity initiative to promote recycling and mining methods.

The Prime Minister is expected to attend the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) summit on Sunday.