This G20 Reflects The Voice Of The Global South

India's G20 presidency is a watershed moment, with the country helping shape a number of global issues. As the central figure taking it forward this year, Prime Minister NARENDRA MODI has successfully ensured that India plays a pivotal role in addressing the concerns of the Global South. Just days before the G20 Leaders' Summit, the prime minister, in an exclusive interaction with our sister publication BUSINESS TODAY, spoke about the opportunity India has to help address areas of global concern.

- RAHUL KANWAL, SOURAV MAJUMDAR and SIDDHARTH ZARABI

Q. India's presidency of the G20 comes at a time when international agencies are bullish about the growth potential of the Indian economy. How will the G20 summit help bolster India's image as an emerging economic power and as a credible voice at global economic platforms?

I don't think the image of a country and its branding can be bolstered through a summit. The financial world works on hard facts. It works on performance, and not perception. Whether it is the way India fought the Covid-19 pandemic and helped other countries to do so, or the way we managed our economy to make it the fastest-growing, or the way our financial and banking systems have been going from strength to strength, today, the world is aware of India's trajectory.

To see a summit through the prism of image-building undermines the India growth story. The G20 summit should be seen in a global context. The G20 countries feel that just talking about billions and trillions doesn’t create impact and there should be focus on human-centric development. My experience is that discussions have been going on on these lines during our G20 presidency. In so many meetings and discussions, we have seen old positions giving way to new perspectives.

Developed and developing countries will come together for the first time and find solutions to global problems. We have laid the foundation for inclusivity by inviting the African Union. The participation during our G20 presidency has been unprecedented and the openness of participants unparalleled. I am confident this will lead to success, with the contributions of all countries. India and India’s G20 will act as a catalytic agent for the new global order.

Q. Your government has invested a lot of energy in shaping India’s G20 presidency. What are the key outcomes you hope to achieve at the end of it?