Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (November 21, 2025) departed for South Africa on a three day visit to participate in the first-ever G20 Summit hosted on the African continent. During his stay in Johannesburg, he will also attend the sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit and hold a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders.
Ahead of his departure, the Prime Minister said he would present India’s views in alignment with the country’s global philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
A Milestone Summit in Africa
“This is a particularly special Summit as it is being held in Africa,” Mr. Modi posted on X. He added that multiple global challenges would be deliberated upon, and the event would provide an opportunity to deepen engagement with partner nations.
Mr. Modi is traveling to Johannesburg on the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is chairing the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit.
South Africa’s G20 Presidency has chosen the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’, building on the outcomes of earlier summits in New Delhi (2023) and Rio de Janeiro (2024).
India to Highlight Global South Issues
In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said he would articulate India’s expectations for a more inclusive global order, especially for developing nations. India, during its own G20 Presidency in 2023, had successfully facilitated the African Union’s entry into the G20 as a permanent member a landmark moment for Global South representation.
MEA officials noted that PM Modi will speak in all three key plenary sessions, covering:
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Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth — global trade, development financing, debt distress
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A Resilient World — disaster risk reduction, climate change, food systems, and energy transitions
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A Fair and Just Future — AI governance, decent work standards, and critical mineral supply chains
IBSA Summit and Bilateral Talks
On the sidelines, the Prime Minister will participate in the sixth IBSA Summit, reviving the trilateral grouping’s cooperation in democracy, development, and South-South partnership.
He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several heads of state, though the MEA has not yet disclosed the full list.
Engagement with the Indian Diaspora
PM Modi said he looks forward to interacting with South Africa’s Indian community one of the largest and most historic diaspora groups globally.
G20: A Snapshot
The G20 represents:
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85% of global GDP
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75% of world trade
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Two-thirds of the global population
Its members include major economies such as the U.S., China, India, the U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the African Union, among others.
This marks the fourth consecutive G20 Summit hosted in the Global South, following Indonesia (2022), India (2023), and Brazil (2024).
