PM Modi Inaugurates 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024. The Summit is being held in a virtual format, and many leaders of the Global South are participating in the meeting. The Voice of Global South is an Indian concept rooted in the ancient Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It provides a platform for the countries of the Global South to raise issues that are vital to them. 

Voice of Global South Summit 

India hosted the first Voice of Global South Summit in a virtual format from 2 to 13 January 2023. Following the summit's success, India organised the second Voice of Global South Summit on 17 November 2023. 

Over 100 countries of the Global South participated in the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit.

The 3rd Voice of Global South Summit will include a Leader’s session and 10 Ministerial sessions on various themes.

The Leader’s session was hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Global Development Compact 

PM Modi proposed a comprehensive Global Development Compact for the Global South based on India’s development journey and experience of development partnerships.

Under the Development Compact, he said, the focus will be on trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, technology sharing, project-specific concessional finance and grants.

PM Modi announced that India will start a special fund of 2.5 million dollars to strengthen trade promotion activities amongst the Global South countries.

He also announced that a one-million-dollar fund would be provided for capacity-building training in trade policy and trade negotiation.

Participants at the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit 

123 country leaders and ministers from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania attended the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit meeting.

China and Pakistan were not invited to the Summit meeting.

3rd Voice of Global South Summit Theme

“An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future” is the theme of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit.

The theme reflects the agenda of the summit, which will discuss issues like conflicts, food and energy security crises, and climate change, which is a major challenge for the Global South.

What is Global South?

Global South is a loose term that refers to poor and developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. It is contrasted with the Global North, which includes rich and developed countries in Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. 

The Global North dominates the Global South through political and economic exploitation.

American political activist Carl Oglesby is given credit for coining the term ‘Global South’ in 1969.