Bhutan PM, Sri Lankan president to attend 3rd Voice of Global South Summit

Bhutan Prime MinisterTshering Tobgay andSri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be among the world leaders who will attendthe virtual Voice of Global South Summit, hosted by India,this Saturday (August 17). This will be the thirdedition of the summit to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the first one this year. Several countries from Africa, Latin America, and Pacific countries have been invited.

A Ministry of External Affairs release said that:"India will host the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024. This unique initiative began as an extension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’, and is underpinned by India's philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It envisages bringing together countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform across a whole range of issues."

Last year, India hosted two voices of the global south summits virtually, the outcomes of which were part of India's G20 Presidency, including the New Delhi declaration issued after the G20 summit. The firstVoice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) took place in January 2023 while the secondone was in November 2023.

Through these summits, India's focus is to give a platform to issues impacting the global south amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the war in Gazaand other disruptions that have led to increased prices of fuel, fertilisers, etc. This has especially impacted the people of the global south, with increases in prices of commodities.

Both the previous editions of the summit saw the participation of over 100 countries from the global south. The summit, which will take place this Saturday, will have 10 ministerial sessions at the level of foreign, health, youth, trade, information and technology, finance, energy, education, and environment ministers.

Bangladesh has been invited to the thirdGlobal South Summit, the invitations for which were sent out well in advance. It is now known who from theinterim government will attend the summit. Last year, the then Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina attended the India-hosted summit.