India’s G20 presidency will be inclusive and decisive, says PM
NEW DELHI: India will make the G20 a “catalyst for global change” and its presidency of the group in 2023 will be inclusive and actionoriented, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday amid persisting differences among the world’s largest economies over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As the G20 presidency was handed over to India by Indonesia, Modi said the country will work for collective action on global challenges such as food and energy security. Indonesian President Joko Widodo banged a gavel to mark the change of presidency at the closing session of the G20 Summit in Bali.
In an address at the closing session, Modi noted India is taking charge of the G20 at a “time when the world is simultaneously grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices and the longterm ill-effects of the pandemic”. He congratulated Widodo for his “efficient leadership” of the G20.
Speaking in Hindi, he said: “At such a time, the world is looking at the G20 with hope. Today, I want to assure that India’s G20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented.”
He added, “Together, we will make the G20 a catalyst for global change.”
In an apparent reference to global tensions and divisions triggered by the Ukraine conflict, Modi said future generations won’t be able to take advantage of economic growth without peace and security.
“The G20 has to convey a strong message in favour of peace and harmony. All these priorities are fully embodied in the theme of India’s G-20 chairmanship – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,” he emphasised.
India will formally begin its presidency on December 1 and host the next summit in New Delhi in September, 2023. Modi said India will strive to ensure the G20 “acts as a global prime mover envision new ideas and accelerate collective action”.
Highlighting the role of women in global development, he said, “We have to maintain priority on women-led development even in our G20 agenda.”
Noting that the “sense of ownership over natural resources” is creating conflict, Modi said this is the main cause of the plight of the environment. A sense of trusteeship is the solution for the planet’s safe future and India’s LiFE or “Lifestyle for Environment” can make a contribution in this context.
Earlier, Modi told the summit’s session on digital transformation that India’s G20 presidency will focus on bridging the digital divide, especially in developing countries, and ensuring greater benefit from these technologies.
“The principle of ‘data for development’ will be an integral part of the overall theme of our presidency, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,” he said.
India is making digital access public but there is a huge digital divide at the international level and citizens of most developing countries don’t have “any kind of digital identity” while only 50 nations have digital payment systems, he said in Hindi.
“Can we take a pledge together that in the next 10 years, we will bring digital transformation in the life of every human being, so that no person is deprived of the benefits of digital technology,” he said.
Digital issues and reforms of multilateral financial institutions are among the focus areas for India’s G20 presidency.
Modi said proper use of digital technologies can be a force multiplier in the global fight against poverty, and digital solutions can aid the fight against climate change. “India’s experience... has shown us that if we make digital architecture inclusive, it can bring about socio-economic transformation. Digital use can bring scale and speed. Transparency can be brought in governance,” he said, noting India has developed digital public goods whose “basic architecture has in-built democratic principles”.