India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar voiced strong support for the priorities set by the South African Presidency at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, highlighting their alignment with India’s own focus areas during its 2023 G20 leadership.
Speaking at the high-level gathering, Jaishankar urged the G20 to emphasize collaboration over competition in addressing global challenges, and called for the group to evolve in its second cycle to reflect the pressing issues of the day—particularly food, energy, and health security, as well as women-led development.
“We are supportive of the priorities of the South African Presidency. They align with what India has advocated both nationally and during its own G20 Presidency,” Jaishankar said.
Underscoring India’s continued commitment to disaster preparedness and response, Jaishankar cited the success of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), launched by India in 2019, which now includes 42 countries and seven international organizations. He also highlighted the creation of a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group during India’s G20 presidency, focused on financing preparedness and recovery frameworks.
Addressing economic challenges, Jaishankar called for robust solutions for debt sustainability, advocating for balanced frameworks that consider both development needs and fiscal responsibility. He noted the ongoing relevance of multilateral development bank (MDB) reforms initiated under India’s G20 leadership.
He also emphasized the importance of equitable and accessible financing for clean energy transitions, pointing to Indian-led initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance as examples of effective global cooperation in climate action.
In his remarks, Jaishankar highlighted the need for resilient and transparent global supply chains and advocated enhanced cooperation in geological exploration and sustainable mining, particularly for critical minerals—an area he said holds significant potential for economic growth in Africa.
The minister praised South Africa’s focus on inclusive economic growth, food security, and the use of artificial intelligence for sustainable development—areas he said closely reflect India’s own human-centric development approach. “South Africa’s endeavor to address these challenges through task forces is commendable. In India, these domains remain central to our development strategy,” he said.
Concluding his address, Jaishankar expressed confidence in South Africa’s leadership of the G20 and welcomed the continued focus on development. “It has been fortuitous that four developing countries have held back-to-back G20 Presidencies, ensuring that development remains at the forefront of the global agenda,” he said. “As South Africa’s Presidency advances, I am confident we will collectively work towards providing leadership and solutions to the key issues of our times.”