The Global DPI Repository, created under India’s G-20 Presidency, was the first ever multilateral consensus on DPI, says PM Modi
Highlighting the contribution of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to inclusive development as a revolution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 17, 2024) reiterated the utility of the Social Impact Fund in speeding up the spread of DPI in the Global South.
 
India will make an initial contribution of USD 25 million to the fund, he said in his opening remarks at the Inaugural Leaders' Session of the Voice of Global South Summit 3.0 held in virtual format.
 
"The contribution of Digital Public Infrastructure in inclusive development is no less than a revolution," Prime Minister Modi stated, adding that the Global DPI Repository, created under India’s G-20 Presidency, was the first ever multilateral consensus on DPI.  He noted that agreements to share the “India Stack” had been reached with 12 partners from the Global South.

"To accelerate DPI in the Global South, we have created the Social Impact Fund. India will make an initial contribution of $25 million," Prime Minister Modi announced.
 
'War Situation has Posed Challenges'
The meeting comes at a time when there is an atmosphere of uncertainty all around, Prime Minister Modi remarked, as he stated, "The world has not yet completely come out of the impact of Covid. On the other hand, the war situation has posed challenges to our development journey," he pointed out. 
 
Prime Minister Modi went on to highlight the following:
1. The challenges of climate change and concerns about health security, food security, and energy security.
2. Terrorism, extremism and separatism.
3. The technology divide and new economic and social challenges related to technology.

"The global governance and financial institutions built in the last century have been unable to fight the challenges of this century," he stated.
 
Reiterating India’s commitment to sharing its experiences and capabilities with all the countries of the Global South, Prime Minister Modi referred to the promotion of mutual trade, inclusive growth, advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and women-led development. "Over the past few years, our mutual cooperation has been boosted by infrastructure, digital and energy connectivity," he remarked.
 
"In 2022, when India took over the G-20 Presidency, we resolved that we will give a new shape to the G-20. The Voice of Global South Summit became a platform where we openly discussed problems and priorities related to development. And India designed the G-20 agenda based on the hopes, aspirations and priorities of the Global South," Prime Minister Modi recalled.
 
The biggest example of this was the historic moment when the African Union assumed permanent membership in the G-20, he noted.

While the inaugural session hosted by Prime Minister Modi was attended by Heads of State and Government, the summit also features 10 Ministerial Sessions, each dedicated to a specific theme relevant to the Global South.
 
Through this summit, India seeks to institutionalize a platform where the Global South can collectively address their challenges and work towards a more inclusive and sustainable global order. The institutionalization of the summit also reflects India’s broader commitment to ensuring that the concerns of the Global South are not marginalized in international forums.