PM Modi’s South Africa Visit: Key Agenda for the G20 Leaders’ Summit

South Africa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit South Africa for two days on November 21. He will participate in the G20 leaders' summit to be held in Johannesburg. This meeting will run from 21 to 23 November. Before leaving, PM Modi explained the purpose and program of his visit.

Why is this time's G20 summit special?

This conference is different because for the first time the G20 meeting is being held in Africa. The African Union got membership of the G20 in 2023 during India's presidency. For this reason, this conference to be held in Africa is being considered historic. This year's theme is “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” which carries forward the direction of the previous two conferences.

What issues will India raise there?

The Prime Minister said he would present India's case with the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” India's focus will be on issues related to the interests of developing countries, the global economy, climate, and sustainable development.

Why is the IBSA meeting important?

PM Modi will also participate in the 6th IBSA summit during this tour. IBSA includes India, Brazil, and South Africa. This group is a platform for cooperation between three democratic countries, where efforts are made to work together on development and international issues.

What are the topics South Africa focuses on?

South Africa has set four main priorities for its presidency—

• Strengthening disaster management and response.
• Improving the debt situation of low-income countries.
• Raising the funds needed for the energy transition.
• Increasing use of critical minerals for sustainable development

India had already given special importance to these issues by forming the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group during its presidency.

Why is this tour important for India?

India had launched several important proposals and initiatives during its 2023 chairmanship. Now this platform gives them an opportunity to advance and strengthen their role in the world. The G20 is a group of the world's largest economies, representing about 85% of global GDP and the majority of the world's population. In such a situation, India's role is important in these meetings.

Why is it important to meet the Indian community?

PM Modi said that he is also looking forward to meeting Indians settled in South Africa. The Indian expatriate community living here is one of the largest Indian communities in the world and plays an important role in strengthening the relations between the two countries.