VOGSS or Voice of Global South Summit is an unique initiative that brought together 125 countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform.

India will host the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on Friday, November 17th, in a virtual format which will be the second time since January this year. India hosted the inaugural Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12-13 January 2023, virtually.

The 2nd summit would focus on sharing with countries of the Global South the key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings over the course of India’s Presidency. 

The second summit will be structured into 10 sessions, out of which, the inaugural and concluding sessions will be at the Head of State/Government level, and hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The theme of the Inaugural Leaders’ Session is “Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust” and that of the Concluding Leaders’ Session is “Global South: Together for One Future”.

The eight ministerial sessions will include two Foreign Ministers’ Sessions; one Ministerial session each of Education, Finance, Environment, Energy, Health, and Commerce Ministers; and a Concluding Leaders’ Session in the evening.

There will be Ministerial Sessions will have the following themes:

• Foreign Ministers’ Session on “India & the Global South: Emerging Together for a Better Future”
• Education Ministers’ Session on “Making Human Resources Future Ready”
• Finance Ministers’ Session on “Financing People-Centric Development”
• Environment Ministers’ Session on “Sustainable Solutions for Climate Resilience and Climate Finance”

What were the outcomes?
 

There were several outcomes such as

• Establishment of a think tank Global South Center of Excellence known as 'DAKSHIN': Indian PM inaugurated this initiative, aimed at fostering collaboration among developing nations by serving as a knowledge repository and think tank.
• Thematic Discussions: Ministerial sessions delved into a wide array of topics, including Sustainable Development Goals, energy transition, climate finance, digital transformation, women-led development, counter-terrorism, and global institution reforms.
• Call for Restraint Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict: India articulated deep concern regarding the plight of civilians affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• Emphasis on the urgent need for all involved parties to exercise restraint, prioritize the safety of innocent civilians, and work towards de-escalation.
• Adoption of 5Cs : What are the 5Cs ? India also called for 5 ‘Cs’ for the Global South: Consultation, Cooperation, Communication, Creativity and Capacity building.

The challenges posed by global developments are also likely to be discussed. Further, the summit will serve as a platform to discuss ways to sustain the momentum generated toward the common aspiration of a more inclusive, representative, and progressive world order.