Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to South Africa for 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit

Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi undertook a three-day official visit to South Africa from November 21–23, 2025, to participate in the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit, marking his 12th G20 summit.

• The 2025 G20 Summit, held from November 22–23, 2025, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, was the first G20 summit ever hosted on the African continent.

Highlights of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to South Africa:

Arrival: On November 21, 2025, PM Narendra Modi arrived at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Johannesburg and received a ceremonial welcome.

Previous Visits: This was PM Modi’s fourth official visit to South Africa, following his bilateral visit in 2016 and his participation in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summits in 2018 and 2023.

PM Narendra Modi Participates in G20 Summit:

Overview: The 2025 G20 Summit, hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, was the fourth consecutive G20 Summit held in the Global South.

Theme: The 2025 summit was held under the theme titled “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”.

Participation: The summit was attended by the G20 members and organizations such as United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), World Health Organization (WHO), Organization for Economic-Cooperation and Development (OECD), and International Labour Organization (ILO).

• G20 Participation (2025): Leaders from 19 member countries, including India, China, Germany, France, the United Kingdom(UK), Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Italy, Canada, Argentina, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, Turkey, and the European Union(EU) attended the summit, while the United States of America(USA) did not participate.

PM Narendra Modi: On November 22, 2025, he addressed the Opening session titled “Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth-Leaving No One Behind”, emphasizing reforming development financing, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, and enhancing the voice of the global south.

• He addressed the 2nd session on “A Resilient World,” urging stronger climate action to safeguard global food security, and the 3rd session on “A Fair and Just Future for All,” proposing a Global Framework for Talent Mobility covering critical minerals, decent work, and AI.
• He also announced the hosting of the “AI Impact Summit” by India in February 2026 under the theme “Sarvajanam Hitaya, Sarvajanam Sukhaya” (Welfare and Happiness for all) and invited all G20 members.

Six Ideas Proposed: During the session, PM Modi proposed six ideas for the G20, including:

• Creation of a G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, a shared global database to preserve and use traditional knowledge for future generations.
• G20 Africa Skills Multiplier, a program to train one million certified trainers who will skill young people across Africa and build long-term local capacity.
• G20 Global Health Response Team, a team of health experts from all G20 countries that can be quickly deployed to handle health emergencies anywhere globally.
• G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership, under which G20 space agencies will share satellite data with developing countries to support farming, fisheries, disaster management, among other activities.
• G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, a plan to promote recycling, urban mining, reuse of batteries, and innovation to strengthen mineral supply chains and support cleaner development.
• G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus, a coordinated effort to fight drug trafficking and dismantle the financial links between drugs and terrorism.

G20 Adopts Joint Declaration: During the summit, the G20 leaders agreed and adopted the 122‑Point Leaders’ Declaration emphasized solidarity, equality, and sustainability, highlighting multilateral cooperation and the priorities of the Global South.

• It includes Climate Action and Sustainability, Debt Relief and Development Finance, Critical Minerals, Trade and Multilateralism, Peace, Security, and Counterterrorism, Support for Vulnerable Countries, and Global Governance Reform.

Key Outcomes: The G20 Summit approved a 25th IMF Executive Board seat for Sub‑Saharan Africa to strengthen the region’s representation in decision-making.

• The G20 Summit reaffirmed commitment to the Paris Agreement and the 1.5°C goal, launched Mission 300 to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, and set targets to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.
• The G20 Summit adopted a Critical Minerals Framework for sustainable mining and resilient supply chains, and Ubuntu Approaches on Food Security to support smallholder farmers, local agriculture, and food-price stability.
• The G20 Summit launched the AI for Africa Initiative to strengthen computing, data access, and talent development.

ACITI Partnership:  During the G20 Summit, India, Canada, and Australia launched the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership, a trilateral technology and innovation partnership.

• The partnership aims to work together on critical and emerging technologies, green energy innovation, resilient supply chains, especially for critical minerals, and AI for public good.

Next Host: The USA will hold the G20 presidency in 2026 and plans to host the 2026 G20 summit in Doral, Florida, the USA.

Bilateral Meetings:

On the Sidelines of the G20 Summit, PM Narendra Modi met various global leaders, including:

South Africa: Met with  Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, and reviewed their strong bilateral ties and progress made in areas such as trade, investment, skills, mining, and people-to-people ties.

Canada: Met Mark Carney, PM of Canada, and discussed expanding collaboration in trade, investment, defence, education, space, science and technology, and trade.

• Both leaders agreed to resume the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada, aimed at doubling bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030. India-Canada CEPA was established in 2010 and paused in September 2023 due to political tensions.

Japan: Met Sanae Takaichi, PM of Japan, for the first time, reaffirmed the importance of India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership (SSGP) 2014, and reviewed the progress since the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit held in August 2025

Italy: Met PM of Italy Giorgia Meloni and adopted the India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism, aimed at strengthening cooperation against terrorism and working together in global forums such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF).

IBSA Leaders’ Meeting:

Meeting: PM Narendra Modi attended the India Brazil South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting, in Johannesburg,  hosted by Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and attended by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.

Key Proposals: During the meeting, PM Narendra Modi proposed an IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance to share Digital Public Infrastructure such as Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN), cybersecurity systems, and women-led tech innovations.

• He also proposed creating an IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture to strengthen South-South cooperation.

About G20: 

Overview: G20 was established in 1999 as a meeting of financial ministers and Central Bank Governors. The first G20 Leaders’ Summit, involving heads of state or governments, was held in 2008 during the global financial crisis, which is held every year.

Countries: G20 comprises 19 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and two regional bodies such as European Union (EU) and African Union (AU).

• It includes the major world economies, representing 85% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), over 75% of international trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

About South Africa:
President – Cyril Ramaphosa
Capital – Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town
Currency – South African Rand (ZAR)