India has invited more than 120 nations for a conference of the global south, giving a voice to non-G20 nations to flag their concerns and share perspectives. The Voice of Global South summit will be conducted virtually on January 12-13 and the session with heads of states will be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports Economic Times.
The summit will deliberate on a variety of issues, including the global economy, energy security, climate change, post-Covid-19 pandemic implications and the Ukrainian crisis. Perspectives of the global south will be shared at the global platform given India's presidency of the G20 which provides an opportunity to channelise the inputs, said officials.
"We will be hosting a special virtual summit on 12th and 13th January 2023, that is next week. This summit will be called the Voice of Global South Summit under the theme 'Unity of Voice and Unity of purpose," foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said at a special briefing on the upcoming summit.
Eight ministerial level sessions will be conducted, focusing on areas such as energy security, the global economy, climate change and food security. Two heads of states sessions are also planned. A session to be hosted by external affairs minister S Jaishankar will focus on G20 and expectations of the global south. Officials have not yet shared details of all the invitees, particularly whether nations such as Pakistan, Ukraine and China have been invited.
"It envisages bringing together countries of the global south to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform... the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, increased difficulties in access and affordability of food, fertiliser and fuel, increased burden on developing countries like mounting debt and inflationary pressures (will be discussed)," said Kwatra.
The summit will also provide a platform to developing and underdeveloped nations to share their perspectives on the ongoing energy crisis as well as the cap on oil prices announced by the Western world on Russian crude oil. The global south has been adversely impacted by constraints in availability of energy resources and unilateral sanctions that have disrupted supply chains.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
