DAKSHIN

Voice of Global South Summit

The Voice of Global South Summit is India’s endeavour to provide a common platform to deliberate on the concerns, interests and priorities of developing countries, exchange ideas and solutions, and unite in voice and purpose in forging development solutions.

The Voice of Global South Summit holds profound significance. This Summit provides a platform for emerging economies and nations from the Global South to express their unique perspectives, challenges, and innovative solutions on the global stage. Initiated with the goal to amplify the voices of low and middle-income countries, the Summit leverages its influence to call upon developed economies to re-orient their approach towards the underserved. It fosters a more inclusive and equitable dialogue and acts as a catalyst for collaboration, offering fresh insights and driving collective action towards a more balanced and interconnected world.

1^st Voice of Global South Summit

India convened the 1^st Voice of Global South Summit, a one-of-a-kind event, to focus international attention on priorities, perspectives and concerns of the developing world.

The Summit was held on 12-13 January 2023 in virtual format, spread across 10 sessions. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, presided over the Inaugural Leaders’ session on 12^th January. This was followed by eight Ministerial-level thematic segments dedicated to addressing the most pressing concerns of the developing world. The Summit wrapped up on 13^th January with a Concluding Leaders’ Session also hosted by the Prime Minister. India was able to channelise the inputs received in these sessions into the deliberations and discourse of the G20.

The participating Leaders put forward their views and expressed hope that the Summit would serve as a catalyst for building a prosperous and inclusive future for the world that takes into account the needs of the Global South.

The Summit saw participation of Leaders and Ministers from 125 countries of the Global South; which included 29 countries from Latin America & Caribbean, 47 countries from Africa, seven countries from Europe, 31 countries from Asia and 11 countries from Oceania.

Key Initiatives

During the 1^st Voice of Global South Summit, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi had announced five key initiatives:

Global South Centre of Excellence

DAKSHIN, or Development and Knowledge Sharing Initiative, is India’s initiative to set up a Global South Centre of Excellence.

Global South Young Diplomats Forum

Young diplomats from Global South earnestly need a platform for synergising diplomatic voice. ‘Global South Young Diplomats Forum’, is proposed to connect young officers of foreign ministries.

Global South Science and Technology Initiative

India has emerged as a source of technological and digital solutions ensuring access, equity and inclusion. India’s space missions, capabilities and innovations in digital public infrastructure, fintech and renewable energy among others would form potential bridges of lasting and mutually rewarding partnerships through sharing of expertise in the Global South.

Arogya Maitri

Aarogya Maitri, or ‘Health Friendship’, project envisages India providing essential medical supplies to any developing country affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises. India is considered the pharmacy of the world and emerged as a true friend of the Global South through ‘Vaccine Maitri’ at the peak of the Covid pandemic. On numerous occasions, India has rushed medical supplies and personnel during times of natural disasters and on humanitarian grounds.

Global South Scholarships

India is considered a global hub of higher education and research across disciplines attracting students from many countries of the Global South. India will support ‘Global South Scholarships’ for students from developing countries to pursue higher education in India.

2^nd Voice of Global South Summit

Following on India's endeavour to provide a voice to the Global South, India hosted the 2^nd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023, under the theme – ‘Together, For Everyone's Growth, With Everyone's Trust’. The theme is an extension of India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

The Summit saw 10 sessions on November 17, 2023. The inaugural and the concluding session were presided over by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which saw attendence at the Heads of the State and Heads of the Government level. The other 8 sessions were at the Ministerial Level.

The key focus of the Summit was threefold:

To share the outcomes and progress achieved in the priorities of the Global South during India’s G-20 Presidency.
To amplify the voice of the Global South and deliberate on the way forward to achieve our common objectives.
To sustain the momentum of exchange and sharing of ideas and best practices between our countries, generated towards our common aspiration of a more inclusive, representative and progressive world order.

Learn more about the Voice of Global South Summits