The recent culmination of the Foreign Ministers’ Session during the 2nd VoiceOfGlobalSouth Summit marked a pivotal moment in fostering collaboration and synergy among nations representing the Global South. Under the adept chairmanship of India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, the summit convened under the theme ‘India & the Global South: Emerging Together for a Better Future,’ steering discussions towards financing people-centric development.
The Finance Ministers’ Session, skillfully chaired by Secretary Ajay Seth of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, witnessed deliberations focusing on G20India’s milestones. Topics ranged from bolstering Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to augmenting financing for sustainable development and igniting political momentum for debt resolution.
The Education Ministers’ Session, guided by Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Ministry of Education, centered on sculpting human resources for the future. Discussions revolved around enhancing human capital through education, fostering skill development, sharing knowledge for a future-ready workforce, and addressing the skill gap prevalent in the Global South.
Minister Bhupender Yadav from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, adeptly chaired the Environment Ministers’ Session themed ‘Sustainable Solutions for Climate Resilience and Climate Finance.’ Engaging dialogues centered on green transition, circular economy principles, greenhouse gas reduction, and efficient waste management.
The Health Ministers’ Session, chaired by Minister Mansukh Mandaviya from the Ministry of Health, focused on ‘Solutions from the Global South for One Health.’ Conversations revolved around tackling unique challenges faced by the Global South, emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and equitable access to medical resources through collaborative and digital innovations.
Led by Minister Hardeep Singh Puri from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Energy Ministers’ Session discussed ‘Affordable & Inclusive Energy Transition for Sustainable Development.’ Key issues addressed included energy diversification, renewables such as biofuels and green hydrogen, and fostering collaboration within the Global South for energy security.
Lastly, the Commerce & Trade Minister’s Session, under the guidance of Minister Piyush Goyal from the Department of Commerce, centered on ‘Global South & Resilient Supply Chains.’ Deliberations underscored the imperative for nations to ascend the Global Value Chain, strengthen Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), digitalize documents, and enhance critical logistics infrastructure for seamless international trade.
The comprehensive and insightful discussions across various ministerial sessions during the 2nd VoiceOfGlobalSouth Summit reaffirmed the commitment of nations within the Global South to collaborate, share knowledge, and craft sustainable solutions for collective progress and resilience on the global stage.