The last week witnessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi set off on a five-nation visit to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. The week-long visit signalled India’s deepening engagement with Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, reaffirming its position in shaping a united and empowered Global South. Prime Minister Modi, during these visits, upheld the ideals of inclusive development, shared growth, and strategic collaboration as the bedrock of harnessing South-South Cooperation. Capacity building, digital transformation, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure were underscored as critical areas of collaboration during his meetings with the leadership of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, India signed multiple MoUs with both the nations. Such strategic collaborations reflect India’s robust role as a development partner in prioritising the needs of the Global South.
At the 17th BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to being the voice of the Global South and urged it to prioritise the needs of the Global South by leading through action. He called for structural reforms in global governance and outlined the need for stronger cooperation on critical issues like climate finance, technology access, green energy, resilient supply chains, and responsible use of emerging technologies. South-South Cooperation also formed a dominant narrative in his meetings with Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. The leaders during their bilateral meetings emphasised the importance of collaboration in areas such as pharmaceuticals, energy, and critical minerals, which would bolster sustainable development in the countries of the Global South. Prime Minister Modi’s visits contributed to positioning India not just as a partner but also as an enabler in reimagining a more equitable global order rooted in the aspirations of the Global South. As India prepares to take the helm of BRICS next year, Prime Minister Modi asserted that the BRICS under India’s Chairship will be people centric and will focus on the priorities of the Global South.
The BRICS Declaration 2025 upholds the concerns of the Global South nations. It outlines that the existing international institutions no longer reflect the growing geopolitical and economic weight of the emerging economies. The 20th-century organisations are also falling short of addressing the contemporary challenges of the 21st century. It thus seeks reforms in the existing international institutions for an inclusive and multipolar world order, which would grant the emerging and developing economies with a greater voice in the global order. Further, the declaration puts emphasis on sustainable development, knowledge sharing in critical areas such as AI, critical minerals, etc., climate action and digital cooperation.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Ghanaian President Dr. John Dramani Mahama in Accra, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over three decades. PM Modi was received by President Mahama at Jubilee House, the official residence and office of the Ghanaian President. The two leaders held detailed discussions in both restricted and delegation-level formats, agreeing to elevate bilateral ties to the level of a Comprehensive Partnership. During a joint press briefing, Prime Minister Modi announced that India will set up a Skill Development Centre in Ghana to support youth vocational training and contribute to President Mahama’s ‘Feed Ghana’ programme. He also announced that India would double the ITEC and ICCR scholarships for Ghanaian students.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Trinidad & Tobago counterpart Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the iconic Red House in Port of Spain. Following the talks, the two countries signed six agreements to enhance cooperation in several sectors including infrastructure and pharmaceuticals. In a social media post after the talks, Prime Minister Modi said, the two countries have agreed to deepen economic ties and enhance cooperation in areas such as disaster management, climate change, defence, technology, healthcare and agricultural research. Mr Modi reiterated India’s commitment to India-CARICOM ties and to furthering the voice of the Global South.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with the President of Argentina, H.E. Javier Milei when he arrived at Casa Rosada. On arrival in Buenos Aires, Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome. The visit assumes significance as it happens to be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina after a gap of 57 years. This is a seminal year for India-Argentina ties as the two countries celebrate 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Prime Minister thanked President Milei for the gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation. The two leaders met in restricted and delegation level formats.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with the President of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia. On arrival, he was warmly received by President Lula and accorded a warm and colourful ceremonial welcome. Prime Minister and President Lula held talks in restricted and delegation level formats and discussed all aspects of the multifaceted Strategic Partnership between India and Brazil. They reaffirmed the shared values that underpin the warm and friendly India-Brazil relations. Both leaders welcomed the establishment of a Ministerial level mechanism to discuss trade and commercial matters.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah explored ways to strengthen ties in defence, trade and digital technology, with the two sides announcing the African nation will soon roll out a digital payments system based on India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI). The leaders also called for expediting discussions on a preferential trade agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Namibia was the final destination of a five-nation tour that also took Modi to Brazil to attend the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro. He is the first Indian premier to visit the country in 27 years.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The leaders held productive discussions on various issues on the BRICS agenda, including reform of global governance, enhancing voice of the global south, peace and security, strengthening multilateralism, development issues and Artificial Intelligence. Prime Minister thanked President of Brazil for his warm hospitality and for the successful organisation of the Summit. Prime Minister addressed the inaugural session on "Reform of Global Governance and Peace and Security”. Prime Minister also addressed a session on "Strengthening Multilateral, Economic-Financial Affairs and Artificial Intelligence. This session included participation by BRICS Partner and invited countries.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with the President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar bin Ibrahim, on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors including economic partnership, fintech, capacity building, science and technology, disaster management and healthcare. President Diaz-Canel expressed keen interest in India’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Unified Payments Interface (UPI), recognising India’s expertise in the digital domain. Prime Minister Modi appreciated Cuba’s recognition of Ayurveda and conveyed India’s support for integrating traditional Indian medicine into Cuba’s public health system. He further proposed Cuba’s recognition of the Indian pharmacopoeia, which would facilitate access to affordable generic medicines from India.
At the opening of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presented an overview of the multilateralism crisis, highlighting the emergence of multiple conflicts and their impacts on national autonomy, security, and the global economy. Lula also underscored the role of the founding BRICS countries in building “a new multipolar reality for the 21st century.” Advocating for a reform in global governance, he emphasized the bloc’s ability to become “a force capable of promoting peace and of preventing and mediating conflicts” thanks to its diverse realities. “We can lay the groundwork for a renewed system of governance. To overcome the crisis of trust we now face, we must fundamentally reform the Security Council by making it more legitimate, representative, effective, and democratic,” Lula argued.
President Prabowo Subianto asserted that BRICS should be the conduit for further cooperation among countries in the Global South, calling for a further integration of trade ties and supply chains. Prabowo made the appeal in his speech at the second session of the BRICS summit in the coastal Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to discuss finance, artificial intelligence and multilateralism. "The President proposes a South-South Economic Compact with the objective of making BRICS countries the driver in giving greater access to countries in Global South to trade and also integrating their economies into a supply chain," Deputy Foreign Minister Armanatha Nasir was quoted by Antara as saying.
Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, while attending the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Rio de Janeiro underscored the importance of the BRICS grouping in representing the interests of the Global South. Highlighting India’s economic resilience, Sitharaman credited strong domestic demand, sound macroeconomic management, and targeted fiscal measures for the country’s robust performance. She also noted that India’s policy response to global trade and financial restrictions has focused on market diversification, infrastructure-led growth, and structural reforms to enhance competitiveness and productivity.
Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met with Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The two leaders discussed avenues to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in health, digital innovation, technology, and space. “Pleased to meet Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico in Rio de Janeiro today. Discussed further advancement of our partnership focusing on health, digital, technology and space,” Jaishankar posted on X, sharing a photo of the meeting. India and Mexico share a long-standing relationship dating back to 1950, when Mexico became the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic ties with independent India.
The African Development Bank signed a landmark Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Government of Ghana to support the development of the Volta Economic Corridor, a transformative initiative under the country’s flagship 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+). The agreement signed in partnership with the 24H+ Secretariat and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), sets the stage for an ambitious effort to reposition Lake Volta as a multimodal transport spine for agricultural and industrial expansion, and gateway for cross-border trade with landlocked neighbours including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
In a groundbreaking step towards food self-sufficiency, Ghana has launched a climate-resilient wheat initiative in collaboration with India’s Arima Farms and CSIR-Crops Research Institute. With wheat imports crossing $400 million annually, this project aims to cut dependency and boost local farming. Arima Farms MD, Saalai Manikam, highlighted how South-South cooperation is driving agricultural innovation. She also shared how many Ghanaians admire and follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. A new chapter in India-Ghana partnership is being sown.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro in Rio de Janeiro as part of his trip to Brazil for the expanded BRICS summit and bilateral activities. During the meeting, the PM suggested the two ministries of agriculture establish a Joint Working Group, work closely to implement high-level commitments, further open the market for each other's agricultural products; and promote on-site agricultural investment. He also called for establishing a partnership in coffee production and consumption, creating a joint Vietnam-Brazil coffee brand.
Pan African Agricultural Development Agency (AGRA), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launched a US$580,000 program dubbed “Support towards improved seed sector performance and competitiveness in South Sudan” focused on transforming the country’s seed system through a comprehensive national seed system assessment capacity building for seed production & distribution , quality assurance, policy and legal reforms, and stakeholder engagement. The launch event served as both an inception meeting and a platform to socialize the AGRA’s SeedSAT diagnostic tool, which assessed the current state of South Sudan’s seed systems by identifying gaps and designing tailored and targeted recommendations to inform a national seed investment plan.
Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, met with Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to explore avenues for deepening cooperation in public health and development. During the meeting, Abdel Ghaffar commended the strong and enduring partnership between Egypt and the WHO, expressing appreciation for the organisation’s ongoing support of national health initiatives. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to expanding joint efforts to enhance healthcare outcomes.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched a strategic framework to address the health impacts of climate change. The Director-General of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, described climate change as one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time during the official launch of the framework via a webinar on Wednesday. Mr Kaseya said climate change is already wreaking havoc across Africa, driving extreme weather events, shifting disease patterns, food insecurity, and waterborne illnesses. He said climate change is projected to cause an additional 14.5 million deaths, over two billion healthy life years lost, and $12.5 trillion in economic losses globally by 2050.
In a bold step towards ending period poverty and breaking taboos around menstruation, Nigeria has held its first-ever Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Nigeria Summit in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FTC). Held under the theme “Empowering Lives, Breaking Barriers, and Building Dignity”, the summit, brought together over 350 delegates from across government ministries, civil society organisations, international development partners, academic institutions, grassroots advocates, and young women and girls. The event featured powerful panels, including a Girls’ Focus Session, where young girls shared personal experiences of stigma, lack of access to products, and exclusion.
On the sidelines of the National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform in Morocco signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation to promote inclusive digital transformation in the Arab States and African regions. The new partnership will support countries in strengthening digital public services, advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and building institutional and regulatory systems that enable digital transformation and contribute to sustainable development across both regions.
As part of President Prabowo Subianto’s mandate to modernize public services and accelerate digital transformation for a unified national digital infrastructure, the National Economic Council (DEN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to advance Indonesia’s digital transformation through the Digital Nusantara initiative. With over 200 million mobile internet users and a digital economy projected to reach USD 1945 billion in e-commerce alone by 2030, digital technology holds significant potential to accelerate Indonesia’s progress toward inclusive and sustainable development. However, the shift from fragmented digital platforms to a single, interoperable, secure, and scalable system requires significant technical, institutional, and cultural change.
DAKSHIN at Echo Network’s SAGE Summit 2025: Advancing Sustainability through Collaboration
DAKSHIN - Global South Centre of Excellence, participated in the Sustainability Ambassadors Global Exchange (SAGE) Summit 2025, hosted by the Echo Network on 4th and 5th July at the School of Ancient Wisdom in Bengaluru.
The summit convened a diverse group of over 160 stakeholders from academia, government, NGOs, and industry across India and globally, offering a dynamic space to foster collaboration on sustainable development. It was inaugurated by the Consul General of Denmark, with addresses by leaders from the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and the Innovation Centre Denmark. The two-day programme featured keynote addresses, project milestone reviews, and thematic panels. A special panel was dedicated to DAKSHIN activities.
Prof. Gulshan Sachdeva, Chief Coordinator, DAKSHIN- Global South Centre of Excellence, introduced the institution’s mission and emphasized the value of South–South cooperation in building inclusive and sustainable futures. Dr. Monika Kochar, Advisor (Health), DAKSHIN, highlighted the need to integrate environmental and health strategies through the One Health approach to strengthen climate and pandemic resilience. Dr. Namrata Pathak, Consultant, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), spoke on the importance of protecting traditional knowledge systems in healthcare and ensuring traceability and benefit-sharing within global biodiversity and intellectual property frameworks. Mr. Venkatesh Krishnamurthy, former Digital Advisor, DAKSHIN, discussed the role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in supporting sustainable development across sectors like disaster management, agriculture, and citizen services.
As countries in the Global South confront increasingly complex and interconnected challenges, the summit reinforced the need for regional leadership, shared knowledge, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to shape resilient and sustainable development pathways for the future.
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