Flagging the issue of drug trafficking including that of fentanyl, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the G20 leaders’ summit Saturday that this poses a serious challenge to global security and is a major means of financing terrorism. To effectively address this global threat, he proposed the “G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus” to “weaken” the “drug-terror economy”.
Modi, who arrived in Johannesburg Friday and was welcomed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the summit, reached out to Africa by proposing a G20-Africa Skills Multiplier initiative that will train one million certified trainers in Africa over the next 10 years.
He also proposed formation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, creation of a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, an Open Satellite Data Partnership and a Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative. In all, the Prime Minister, elaborating India’s approach to growth, development and well-being for all, proposed six ideas for the G20 to consider.
In the joint declaration, sources said India ensured “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations” is condemned.
Modi, in his statement at the opening session, said, “Another major issue is drug trafficking. Extremely lethal drugs, especially fentanyl, are spreading rapidly. This poses a serious challenge to public health, social stability, and global security. It is also a major means of financing terrorism.”
“To effectively address this global threat, India proposes the G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus. Under this initiative, we can bring together various instruments related to finance, governance, and security. Only then can the drug-terror economy be weakened,” he said.
Under South Africa’s presidency, he said “commendable work has been done on issues such as skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, the digital economy, innovation, and women’s empowerment”.
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“The historic initiatives taken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been furthered here,” he said, referring to India’s G20 outcomes where the African Union was included as a member of the grouping under India’s initiative on representation of the Global South.
“Over the past several decades, the G20 has shaped global finance and global economic growth. However, the parameters of growth that have been worked out so far have left a large population deprived of resources. Furthermore, they have also encouraged the over-exploitation of nature. Africa is a major sufferer of this. Today, as Africa hosts the G20 Summit for the first time, we must reconsider the parameters of development,” he said, flagging Africa being exploited by the major powers.
“One way to address this lies in India’s civilizational values. And that path is Integral Humanism. That means we must view humans, society, and nature as an integrated whole. Only then will harmony between progress and nature be possible.”
“There are many communities around the world that have preserved their traditional and eco-balanced lifestyles. These traditions not only reflect sustainability, but also reflect cultural wisdom, social cohesion, and a deep respect for nature,” he said.
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“India proposes that a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository be established within the G20. India’s Indian Knowledge Systems initiative could serve as its foundation. This global platform will help transmit humanity’s collective wisdom to future generations,” he said.
Putting the skilling of African youth at the centre of the conversation, Modi said, “Africa’s development and empowering young African talent is in the global interest. Therefore, India proposes a G20-Africa Skills Multiplier initiative. This could operate under a ‘train-the-trainers’ model for different sectors. All G20 partners can finance and support it.”
“Our collective goal is to develop one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. These trainers will, in turn, train millions of skilled youth. This initiative will have a multiplier effect. It will build local capacity and strengthen Africa’s long-term development,” he said.
On health, he said, “Dealing with health emergencies and natural disasters is also our collective responsibility. Therefore, India proposes the formation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, consisting of trained medical experts from G20 countries. This team should be ready for rapid deployment in case of any global health crisis or natural disaster.”
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Reaching out to Africa, he said, “India-Africa solidarity has always been strong. The African Union’s permanent membership of this group during the New Delhi Summit was a major initiative. Now, it is essential that this spirit expands beyond the G20. We must work together to ensure that the voice of the Global South is amplified in all global institutions.”
In the second session, he said India also believes that space technology should benefit all humanity and India is proposing the G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership. This will make satellite data and analysis from G20 space agencies more accessible, interoperable, and useful for countries in the Global South, he said.
Stating that critical minerals play a vital role in ensuring sustainability and clean energy and are humanity’s common wealth, he proposed the G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative. Under this initiative, innovations such as recycling, urban mining, and second-life batteries can be promoted, he said.
Sources said India has managed to echo the key outcomes of the Indian G20 presidency in the G20 South African Summit: Leaders Declaration as well as ensured that the issues and priorities of the Global South are reflected.
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The key outcomes from India’s point of view span technology, women empowerment, role of traditional complementary medicine, climate finance and UN Security Council reforms.
On technology, the transformative potential of digital public infrastructure has been highlighted, sources said. The commitments to harness the potential of digital and emerging technologies including AI, has been reiterated. Safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence development, deployment and use has been reaffirmed.
There was a push for strong language on empowerment of women and girls and in this regard, one of the key outcomes of India’s G20 presidency, women-led development has been encouraged, sources said.
Sources said that strengthening disaster resilience and response is the key priority of the South African presidency. The outcomes of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working group initiated by the Indian presidency have been reinforced in the declaration. Further, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has been recognised in this context, sources said.
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In health, sources said the role of traditional and complementary medicine has been recognised, echoing the New Delhi Leaders’ declaration.
“One of the most significant achievements was on climate finance wherein we managed a more ambitious language than last year. In addition to recognising the need to scale up climate finance from billions to trillions of dollars, the declaration highlights that the needs of developing countries to implement their nationally determined contributions are estimated at USD 5.8–5.9 trillion for the pre-2030 period,” the sources said.
The importance of embracing sustainable production and consumption patterns and mainstreaming Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE) has been recognised, sources said, adding that India also pushed for a call to reform the United Nations Security Council that improves its representation.
Prime Minister Modi also met British PM Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Singapore PM Lawrence Wong, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung among others on the sidelines of the summit.
