Global South priority for India at NAM & G77

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda, from January 19-20, 2024, focusing on the theme 'Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.' Minister of State for External Affairs Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh represented India at the NAM Foreign Minister's meeting. Dr Jaishankar emphasised the empowerment of the Global South, leveraging its growing capabilities and resources to assert rights and demands on the global stage, reinforcing India's role as a 'friend to the world' and a capable navigator of the new era.

During the summit, Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, acknowledged the historical mistake of expelling Indians from Uganda in 1972 under Dictator Idi Amin. Museveni highlighted the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora, now a pillar of Uganda’s economy, with approximately 35,000 Indians actively contributing to sectors like manufacturing, trade, banking, tourism, and IT. The Indian government had gifted 10 executive buses, five ambulances, 10 tractors, and 2,664 flags and flag poles to Uganda for the summit.  

Simultaneously, at the G-77 Third South Summit, also held in Kampala between January 21-22, India was represented by the Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan. The summit's theme, "Leaving No One Behind," resonated with India's ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). MoS Muraleedharan emphasised India's commitment to inclusivity in international organizations and support for capacity-building and development programs for partner nations. He also highlighted India’s advocacy for consolidating the working methods of G77 through an Open-ended Working Group, addressing climate change and poverty challenges. India underscored the Global South's role as the world's future growth engine and the necessity of South-South Cooperation.