India will be hosting the third edition of the Global South Summit next month, around August 17. The summit, which will take place in virtual mode, will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside the meetings at ministerial level. Currently, New Delhi is sending out invites, with sources in various global capitals confirming that they have received the invites.
The August 2024 edition of the summit will be the first such edition of the summit under Prime Minister Modi’s third term in power.
Officially referred to as the ‘Summit of the Global South’, the first edition of the summit took place in January 2023 in the year of India’s G20 presidency. India, by hosting this summit, plans to provide a platform for countries of the Global South to share their perspectives, challenges, and priorities on a common platform.
The second edition of the summit took place in November 2023 after the New Delhi G20 leaders’ summit in September.
The theme of the inaugural summit was ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’, and the theme of the second summit was ‘Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust’.
The summits have seen participation from over 120 countries and focus on issues such as climate change, sustainable development, global governance, and international cooperation. The ministerial sessions took place at the level of foreign ministers, education ministers, finance ministers, environment ministers, energy ministers, health ministers, and commerce/trade ministers.
The summits have seen key announcements from the Indian side.
These include PM Modi inaugurating the Global South Center of Excellence, known as ‘Dakshin’ — meaning the South — which will work as an interface for forging stronger collaboration between global south countries.
The announcements include the platform of the Global South Science and Technology Initiative, the Global South Scholarship Program, cooperation in the health sector, and the Global South Young Diplomats Forum.
During these summits, talks have also focused on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the crisis in West Asia. These developments have had significant consequences for the Global South, including increased prices of fuel, food, and fertilisers.
