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New Delhi, 20 November. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for a three-day visit to South Africa on Friday. He will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg. Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (ER) in the Ministry of External Affairs, gave this information in a media conference on Thursday.

Sudhakar Dalela said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Johannesburg, South Africa from 21 to 23 November to attend the G20 Leaders Summit on the invitation of the South African President. Dalela said, ‘After hosting a very successful Presidency in 2023, this summit will be important for India to continue its priorities in the G20 as the G20 has emerged as a major platform for international economic cooperation as well as to discuss matters of global importance.’

He said the G20 provides an excellent opportunity for leaders of large and emerging economies, which represent more than 85 percent of global GDP and nearly three-quarters of the world’s population. This is a great time for everyone to come together and discuss important issues impacting the world.

Sudhakar Dalela said, ‘South Africa has identified four main priority areas for itself. This year the G20 Presidency will first – strengthen disaster resilience and response, second – ensure debt sustainability for low-income countries, third – mobilize finance for the right energy transition and fourth – harness essential minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

He said that as some of you may remember, the Indian G20 Presidency had created a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, which shows the importance India attaches to this issue. The South Africa Presidency has advanced the important work to disaster risk reduction and resilience as one of the main priorities of its Presidency. Similarly, the South African Presidency, through the Task Force on Food Security, has also continued to address this urgent challenge.

Dalela said, ‘The Johannesburg Summit will also conclude the successful holding of the G20 Presidency by the four emerging markets and developing economies of the G20, namely Indonesia, India, Brazil and, of course, South Africa. This has allowed us all together to focus more on issues impacting the Global South.