LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5644
ANSWERED ON- 27.03.2026
COOPERATION AMONG GLOBAL SOUTH COUNTRIES
5644. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) the recent initiatives undertaken by India to strengthen multilateralism and promote cooperation among countries of the Global South, through platforms such as the G20, BRICS, SCO and the Voice of Global South Summit;
(b) the objectives and strategic priorities guiding these initiatives, particularly in the context of evolving global governance structures and emerging geopolitical challenges;
(c) the steps taken to ensure that the concerns of developing countries are adequately reflected in multilateral deliberations; and
(d) the manner in which these initiatives contribute to addressing shared priorities of the Global South, including food, fertiliser and energy security, climate action, debt sustainability and inclusive development?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to d) India has undertaken significant initiatives to strengthen multilateralism and promote Global South cooperation through major multilateral platforms. During its G20 Presidency, India hosted the G20 Summit in New Delhi on 9-10 September 2023 under the theme 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', rooted in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. At India's initiative, the African Union was admitted as a permanent member of the G20, marking a historic expansion of Global South representation in premier global governance forums. India assumed the BRICS Chairship on 1 January 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', with particular focus on a people-centric and humanity-first approach. India pioneered the Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) as a unique platform for developing countries to share perspectives and priorities, with three editions held (January 2023, November 2023, August 2024), each seeing participation of over 100 countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Inputs emanating from the first VOGSS contributed in framing outcomes on matters important to the Global South during India’s G20 presidency. India also engages actively in the SCO framework, having hosted the SCO Summit on 4 July 2023 during its Chairship.
Through these engagements, India seeks a reinvigorated, inclusive multilateral order reflecting contemporary realities, including reform of international financial institutions, the UN Security Council, and other global governance structures for equitable developing country representation.
India continues to work with partners in amplifying the voice of the Global South. On food and fertiliser security, the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration emphasised open, fair, and transparent agricultural trade, resilient supply chains, and sustainable practices. On energy security, India launched the Global Biofuel Alliance at the G20 New Delhi Summit, and continues advocating energy access through the International Solar Alliance and 'One Sun One World One Grid' initiative. India's G20 Presidency secured significant progress on climate finance for developing countries on concessional terms, culminating in the Green Development Pact with High-level Principles on LiFE. India also launched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to promote resilience of infrastructure systems in developing countries to climate and disaster risks. On debt sustainability, India advocated reforms in Multilateral Development Banks, with the G20 agreeing on sustainable financing mechanisms to address developing country vulnerabilities. India championed Digital Public Infrastructure for inclusive development, with G20 decisions on global value chain mapping and digital certificate recognition benefiting MSMEs, and contributed $25 million for DPI acceleration in the Global South.
*****