PM Modi’s G20 Vision: Knowledge, Skills, and Combating Global Threats

At the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined India’s forward-thinking agenda, emphasizing inclusive and sustainable growth. He called for a fundamental reevaluation of global development paradigms, suggesting that Africa’s first-time hosting of the summit presents a pivotal moment for such a shift. Drawing inspiration from India’s core values, particularly ‘Integral Humanism,’ Modi proposed actionable initiatives designed to foster holistic development. Central to his address was the creation of a ‘Global Traditional Knowledge Repository’ under the G20 framework. This platform, envisioned to be built upon India’s Indian Knowledge Systems initiative, aims to document and disseminate time-tested wisdom on sustainable living, ensuring its preservation for future generations and promoting well-being. Modi stressed that this repository will be instrumental in passing on collective wisdom for enhanced health and prosperity. The Prime Minister also championed the ‘G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative,’ a crucial step to empower the African continent. Recognizing that prevailing global economic models have often excluded large populations and led to environmental degradation, this initiative seeks to bridge the skills gap. The ambitious goal is to train one million certified trainers in Africa within the next decade, fostering self-reliance and sustainable development. This collaborative effort, involving G20 partners, will focus on a train-the-trainers model across various sectors. Furthermore, PM Modi addressed the alarming rise of synthetic drugs and their connection to terrorism, proposing a ‘G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug–Terror Nexus.’ He highlighted the severe threats posed by substances like fentanyl to public health, social cohesion, and global security, urging collective action to dismantle the illicit drug-terror economy. Finally, India put forth the concept of a ‘G20 Global Healthcare Response Team,’ a rapid deployment force of medical experts from member nations to swiftly address health emergencies and natural disasters, underscoring the principle that global solidarity is key to overcoming crises.