PM addresses G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting

Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Group 20 Development Ministers’ Meeting on Monday via video message.

Addressing the gathering, Modi welcomed everyone to Varanasi, the oldest living city of the mother of democracy. Highlighting the significance of Kashi, he said it has been the centre of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries while it also has the essence of India’s diverse heritage serving as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country.

Modi remarked that development is a core issue for the Global South. He pointed out that the countries of the Global South were severely impacted by the disruptions created due to the global Covid pandemic while geo-political tensions were responsible for food, fuel and fertiliser crises.

In such circumstances, the Prime Minister continued, the decisions you make are significant for humanity as a whole. Modi emphasised that it is the collective responsibility of the people to not let the Sustainable Development Goals fall behind. He further added that the Global South must send a strong message to the world about the action plan required to achieve this.

He underlined that our efforts must be comprehensive, inclusive, fair, and sustainable, and attempts should be made to increase investment in fulfilling the SDGs and also finding solutions to address the debt risks faced by many countries. The Prime Minister remarked that multilateral financial institutions should be reformed to expand the eligibility criteria to ensure that finance is accessible to those in need.

In India, the Prime Minister continued, that they have made efforts to improve people's lives in more than a hundred Aspirational Districts which were pockets of under-development. He underscored that these Aspirational Districts have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country as he urged the G20 Development Ministers to study this model of development.

“It may be relevant as you work towards accelerating Agenda 2030”, he added.

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