PM Modi leaves for South Africa to attend G20 Summit; to present India’s views across 3 key sessions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left for a three-day visit to South Africa to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, calling it a “particularly special” gathering as the forum meets in Africa for the first time.

In his departure statement, the prime minister said he is travelling at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for the summit scheduled from November 21 to 23.

“This will be a particularly special Summit given that it would be the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. During India’s Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union had become a member of the G20,” the statement read.

He said discussions at the summit will focus on key global issues under South Africa’s theme of “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”, which builds on priorities set during previous summits in New Delhi and Rio de Janeiro.

“I will present India’s perspective in line with our vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,” Modi said.

On the sidelines, the prime minister will attend the sixth summit of IBSA, a trilateral grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa.

Modi said he also looks forward to interacting with the Indian diaspora in South Africa, one of the largest overseas Indian communities.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Modi is scheduled to address all three sessions of the summit, which will focus on inclusive economic growth, building resilience, and securing a fair future for all.

According to the MEA, the first session will deliberate on global economic revival, the role of trade, development financing and the mounting debt vulnerabilities faced by several nations.

The second session will cover disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions and sustainable food systems.

The final session will take up issues such as critical minerals, decent work opportunities and the governance of artificial intelligence.

The visit is expected to include several bilateral meetings with leaders of partner countries.

No Donald Trump at G20

US President Donald Trump has announced that America will boycott the summit, accusing South Africa of discriminating against its white minority. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier said the US boycott was “their loss”.