Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the G20 Summit in Johannesburg with a strong message: the world must rethink how it defines development. With Africa hosting the summit for the first time, he said this moment calls for a fresh approach that is more fair, sustainable and guided by long-standing civilisational knowledge.
Speaking at the session on âInclusive and sustainable economic growth leaving no one behind,â the Prime Minister said Indiaâs philosophy of Integral Humanism offers a balanced framework for global progress. He then laid out three major proposals focused on traditional knowledge, skills training and international security.
A global repository for traditional knowledge
PM Modi began by stressing the importance of preserving traditional wisdom at a time when the world is battling climate stress, lifestyle changes and ecological imbalance.
He proposed creating a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20. This platform would document sustainable and culturally rooted practices from communities worldwideâcovering areas such as environment, wellness, agriculture and social harmony.
Modi said Indiaâs own Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) framework could provide the base for this global effort. By collecting and sharing time-tested ideas, he said the world can find solutions that are both modern and environmentally sound, rather than relying only on industrial-era models of development.
G20âAfrica skills multiplier initiative
Calling Africaâs growth essential for the worldâs future, PM Modi announced a major plan to support youth skill-building across the continent.
He proposed the G20âAfrica Skills Multiplier Initiative, which will follow a âtrain-the-trainerâ model and be supported by all G20 nations. The goal is to create one million certified trainers in Africa within ten years. These trainers would then build a wider ecosystem of skilled workers, helping millions access better jobs and economic opportunities.
Modi linked this proposal to Indiaâs commitment to Africa, reminding leaders that the African Union was admitted as a permanent G20 member during Indiaâs presidency. With one of the worldâs youngest populations, Africaâs progress, he said, must be central to global decision-making.
Tackling the global drug-terror nexus
PM Modi also raised alarms about the rising spread of highly potent synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, which are damaging public health systems worldwide and destabilising communities.
He called for a G20 Initiative on Countering the DrugâTerror Nexus, saying the illegal drug trade funds organised crime and terrorist networks. The proposed initiative would bring together financial, governance and security systems to crack down on trafficking networks, block illicit money routes and strengthen international cooperation.
With Africa hosting the G20 for the first time, PM Modi said the moment represents an opportunity for a global âcourse correctionâ. He urged leaders to widen their development lensâfrom GDP-focused growth to models that are more inclusive, environmentally balanced and culturally rooted.