MODI AT G20

ronment, with the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis causing havoc around the world.

“Global supply chains are in ruins. There is a crisis of essentials, essential goods all over the world. The challenge for the poor citizens of every country is more severe. Everyday life was already a struggle for them. They do not have the financial capacity to deal with the double whammy,” he said.

Modi said India ensured food security for its 1.3 billion citizens during the pandemic and also supplied food grains to many countries in need. However, the current shortage of fertilisers is a “huge crisis” for food security.

“Today’s fertiliser shortage is tomorrow’s food crisis, for which the world will not have a solution. We should build mutual agreement to maintain a stable and assured supply chain for both manure and food grains,” he said.

India is promoting natural farming, and re-popularising traditional food grains such as millets for sustainable food security. “Millets can also solve global malnutrition and hunger. We all must celebrate the International Year of Millets with great enthusiasm next year,” he added.

Energy security too is important for global growth and for India, the fastest growing economy, Modi said.

“We must not promote any restrictions on the supply of energy, and stability in the energy market should be ensured,” he said.

India is committed to clean energy and environment, and half of the country’s electricity will be generated from renewable sources by 2030. Timebound and affordable finance and sustainable supply of technology to developing countries is essential for inclusive energy transition, Modi said. “During India’s G20 presidency, we will work for global consensus on all these issues,” he said.

India will host the next G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023.

Modi is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with leaders of G20 members and guest countries on the margins of the summit on Wednesday.

People familiar with the matter said he is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron over lunch. He is also expected to meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo, UK PM Rishi Sunak, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez Perez Castejon.