Statement by India at the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Representatives of the South Centre delivered by Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India, Geneva, 27 April 2023
I thank you Chair for giving me the floor.
Excellency President Thabo Mbeki, Chairperson of the Board,
Convenor of the Council, Members of the Board
Executive Director,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates, Members of the Secretariat,
Namaskar, Good-evening to you all!
I would like to begin by conveying our profound appreciation of the leadership of His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, Chairperson of the Board. I congratulate you and South Africa on Freedom Day. I would also like to convey our gratitude to members of the Board for their invaluable contribution. I extend a warm welcome to new members of the Board. We welcome back Colombia as a member of South Centre and congratulate PR of Iran on his election as Vice-Convenor.
2. I take this opportunity to convey our appreciation to our Convenor, Ambassador Ajit Kumar, for his efficient steering of the work of the Council of Representatives. Mr. Convenor, I congratulate you on your re-election. I thank Executive Director, Dr. Carlos Correa, for his stewardship of the Centre’s work. I also thank him for the comprehensive overview of the activities and finances of the South Centre in 2022.
3. These are difficult and uncertain times for the world at large, especially for the developing countries. The multiple crises, unfolding over past three years, have posed unprecedented challenges to us. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on human life globally. It has had a lasting socio-economic impact on countries of Global South, including acute debt distress. Ongoing conflicts have been a cause of profound concern for all of us due to food and energy insecurity as well as supply chain disruptions they have caused. Climate change-driven natural disasters have been markedly on the rise. Iniquitous responses to many of these crises by existing international institutions and multilateral organizations have exacerbated the divide between the Global North and the Global South.
Mr. Convenor,
4. Under these challenging circumstances, as you are aware, India assumed the Presidency of G-20 on 1st December 2022. Guided by our commitment to protect and promote the interests of fellow developing countries, our Prime Minister had convened in a first of its kind initiative a virtual Voice of Global South Summit, in which 125 countries had participated. The purpose of the Summit was to understand clearly the concerns and priorities of the fellow developing countries with a view to reflect them in the deliberations and decisions under various mechanisms of G20.
5. India’s priorities during its G20 Presidency accordingly reflect the concerns and the priorities of the developing countries: Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth; Accelerating Progress on SDGs; Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure; Delivering on Climate Action and Finance / LiFE; Stable Supply Chains of Food, Energy & Fertilizers; Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century; and Women-led Development. We hope to be able to make concrete progress in all these areas.
6. South Centre has always attached a high priority to the issues impacting on growth and development of Global South in its research and advocacy work. In the context of multiple crises being faced by Global South, the work done by South Centre assumes more importance than ever. The policy briefs based on research and analysis undertaken by the Centre have been very valuable. Its efforts to support coordinated proposals in negotiations and promote our common interests in multilateral arena have been very fruitful.
7. India has always been a strong supporter of South Centre and its activities. We have been one of its key financial contributors. We believe that the Centre’s functioning should be strengthened and its engagement with the Member States as well as International Organisations and research institutions should be intensified.
Mr. Convenor,
8. In our interactions with South Centre, including its Executive Director, we have been highlighting the topical issues that are of high priority for the developing countries where we would like the Centre to focus through engaging in research and analysis and preparation of policy briefs, negotiating briefs and concrete textual proposals. We seek continued support of South Centre in the negotiations currently underway in WHO to amend International Health Regulations and to conclude a new instrument on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. We also seek South Centre’s support on matters related to intellectual property rights in relations to various proposals being considered by WTO, WHO and WIPO. As regards WIPO, negotiations will soon begin to finalize International Treaties on Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge as well as Design Law. Support of South Centre in preparing negotiating briefs and textual proposal will be essential to enable the developing countries to participate effectively in these negotiations to protect their vital interests.
9. The matters pertaining to data have assumed a high importance. The concept of ‘Data for Development’ has been included on the Agenda of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development. South Centre’s support in highlighting the developing countries’ perspectives, underlining the relevance of Data for Development, will be very helpful in shaping the eventual outcome of deliberations at the Commission.
10. As we are aware, a UN Global Digital Compact is being negotiated. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching impact on the endeavors of the developing countries to use digital technologies for their socio-economic transformation. The Global Digital Compact must, therefore, reflect the perspectives of developing countries. Analysis and policy briefs by South Centre on various pillars of Global Digital Compact will be very useful reference for submissions by the developing countries.
11. The matters related to climate finance and climate justice remain of high importance for the developing countries. We request South Centre to provide its policy advice and to prepare policy briefs to outline how the perspectives of developing countries should be addressed adequately in the global climate action.
12. We all are aware of the importance of the new generation of technologies and the profound impact that they would have on our growth and development as well as our society and polity. As the international community begins to set the norms for development as well as application of these technologies, including AI, we will benefit immensely from the briefs prepared by South Centre on issues pertaining to access to these technologies for the developing countries and I request South Centre to do so.
13. Before I conclude, I would like to thank the distinguished members of South Centre for the support that they have extended for re-election of H.E. Ambassador Ajit Kumar, as Convenor of the Council of Representatives of South Centre.
14. I would like to assure that Indian Mission in Geneva will continue to work with South Centre with a view to further align the priorities of South Centre with the evolving concerns and priorities of the developing countries.
I thank you for your kind attention and wish you a good evening.
