‘African Union’s Inclusion in G20 a Strong Statement on India’s Advocacy for Global South’: Top Govt Officials

The inclusion of the African Union in G20 through the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the ever-lasting legacy of India’s G20 Presidency and is a strong statement on India’s advocacy for the ‘Global South’, top government officials said.

The G20 summit has hence stood true to its message that India holds, which is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, and proves to be one of the most inclusive summit of all, officials said. The sherpas and delegates in the last 9-10 months have showcased how ‘New India’ under PM Modi has been all inclusive from economy to opportunities to ensuring access to welfare across the country.

The G20 summit held in Delhi will be a milestone of taking the message of One Family globally with the inclusion of African Union, officials said. “The African Union comprises 55 nations, and its inclusion in the G20 is a significant milestone, making it the second-largest group of nations within the G20, following the European Union,” officials said. For long, it was asked if the EU can be part of the G20, why not the AU, an official said.

The inclusion of African Union will help in propagating the goal of inclusive global economy and improved security and also help in creating a cohesive environment, where countries support each other than divide, officials said. This will help in enshrining the message of ‘trust and reliance’, they added.

With full G20 membership, the AU can represent a continent that’s home to the world’s largest free trade area. It’s also enormously rich in the resources the world needs to combat climate change, which Africa contributes to the least but is affected by the most, officials added.

The African continent has 60 per cent of the world’s renewable energy assets and more than 30% of the minerals key to renewable and low-carbon technologies. Congo alone has almost half of the world’s cobalt, a metal essential for lithium-ion batteries, according to a United Nations report on Africa’s economic development.

“This is a testament to PM Modi’s foreign policies and raise of India’s stature as the voice of Global South. This is truly a historic milestone, with a new beginning of a powerful member gaining a seat at the table,” the official added.