The Maldivian government has urged greater cooperation within and beyond the Global South for fast forwarded action towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The statement was made by the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer during his remarks at the Foreign Ministers’ Session of the Third Voice of the Global South Summit convened by the Government of India in a virtual format.
Delivering his remarks as the summit held under the theme “Charting a New Paradigm for Global South”, Minister Zameer stressed the urgency to deliver the climate justice Smalls Island Developing States (SIDS), the Global South, and the world demand and deserve. He underlined the importance of ensuring equitable access to digital tools essential for redefining and realising the development trajectories of the Global South. He also stated that enhanced south-south and triangular cooperation is key to accelerating action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Additionally, Minister Zameer commended the outstanding leadership India demonstrated during its Group of 20 (G20) presidency, and on leading initiatives, which has had a positive impact on the G20 countries as well as the Global South. Highlighting debt obligations as a barrier to sustainable development, particularly resilience building, he stressed the need for urgent action on multilateral frameworks that limits access to concessional financing or debt support.
The Voice of Global South Summit is an initiative put forward by India during its G20 presidency to give a platform for the non-G20 Member States, especially the Global South. This one-day summit inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comprised of ten thematic sessions at Ministerial level. The Foreign Ministers session was chaired by Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar.