Johannesburg, Nov 21 (NationPress) The agenda of the Global South and the challenges confronting developing nations will be central to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda during the G20 Leaders' Summit, commencing in Johannesburg under the leadership of South Africa on Saturday.

In an interview with IANS, India’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, emphasized that during its G20 Presidency in 2023, India underscored the significance of Global South issues, including disaster resilience, digital public infrastructure, women’s empowerment, all of which will continue to be prioritized at the Johannesburg summit.

“You may remember that during the Delhi summit, we emphasized the challenges faced by the Global South such as disaster resilience, digital public infrastructure, women’s empowerment, and food security. These topics will remain prominent at the G20 Summit. South Africa has also advanced these discussions, resulting in meaningful content within the official documents, and Prime Minister Modi will address these issues as well,” Kumar stated in his interview.

India held the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. The 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 9-10, 2023, marking India’s first leadership of the G20.

This summit in Johannesburg represents the fourth consecutive G20 gathering hosted by a Global South nation and the inaugural summit on African soil.

“The challenges of the Global South will be the primary focus of this summit as it is the final gathering under the leadership of a Global South nation. Following Indonesia, Brazil, and India, South Africa will take the helm. Consequently, the agenda of the Global South has gained prominence, with issues such as disaster resilience, public infrastructure, and food security remaining vital topics for discussion,” Kumar added.

Ambassador Kumar noted that trade relations between India and South Africa are well-balanced and have experienced significant growth over the last five years, with bilateral trade approximating USD 18-19 billion.

When queried about new avenues in India-South Africa trade relations, Kumar remarked, “India-South Africa trade relations are flourishing. We have a bilateral trade ranging from USD 18 to USD 19 billion. This trade is balanced and has doubled in the past five years, revealing potential for new opportunities in trade and investment. South Africa is concentrating on infrastructure, presenting numerous prospects in sectors such as railways, ports, and electricity. There is active engagement between Indian companies and South African governmental and corporate entities, indicating potential collaborations in these domains.”