PM Modi Arrives in South Africa for G20 Summit: What’ on the Agenda

New Delhi, November 22, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit. This gathering is particularly significant as it marks the first time the G20 Summit is being held on the African continent, shining a spotlight on issues affecting the Global South.

PM Modi’s visit, from November 21 to 23, 2025, will see him presenting India’s views on global challenges, continuing the momentum set during India’s own G20 Presidency in 2023. His participation is guided by India’s overarching vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (One Earth, One Family, One Future).

South Africa’s Core G20 Priorities

Under the theme of “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,“ South Africa’s Presidency is keenly focused on advancing the development agenda, especially for Africa and low-income nations. The key priorities for the summit include:

• Strengthening Disaster Resilience and Response: With increasing climate-related disasters, this is a crucial focus on global cooperation for recovery and rebuilding.
• Ensuring Debt Sustainability for Low-Income Countries: Addressing the high debt burden that limits developing economies’ ability to invest in essential areas like health and infrastructure.
• Mobilising Finance for a Just Energy Transition: Securing better and more accessible climate finance for developing countries as they move towards cleaner energy.
• Harnessing Critical Minerals for Inclusive Growth: Ensuring that the countries and communities rich in minerals vital for the energy transition are the ones to benefit the most.

India’s Focus: Continuity and Global South Advocacy

For India, the summit is an opportunity to ensure that the priorities championed during its 2023 G20 Presidency are carried forward. These include:

• Accelerating Progress on SDGs: India will stress the need to speed up the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Highlighting the success of India’s DPI model and advocating for its adoption to bridge the global digital divide.
• Reform of Global Institutions: Continuing the push for a more equitable global governance structure.
• Women-Led Development: Advocating for the empowerment of women as a key driver of global growth.

It is worth noting that it was under India’s Presidency that the African Union (AU) was inducted as a permanent member of the G20, making this first African-hosted summit especially symbolic for India.

The Summit Sessions and Bilateral Meetings

The Leaders’ Summit features three formal sessions where PM Modi is expected to speak:

1. Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth: Discussions will cover trade, development financing, and global debt challenges.
2. A Resilient World: Focused on disaster risk reduction, climate change, energy transitions, and food security.
3. A Fair and Just Future for All: Examining critical minerals, decent work, and the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

On the sidelines of the G20, PM Modi will also participate in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting and hold several bilateral meetings with other world leaders, including the Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada. These meetings are crucial for deepening strategic partnerships and discussing mutual interests on the global stage.

In summary, the Johannesburg Summit, as the fourth consecutive G20 meeting in the Global South, is set to be a crucial platform for cementing a people-centred and development-oriented global agenda. PM Modi’s participation underscores India’s commitment to global cooperation and its role as a leading voice for the developing world.