Varanasi: India is pushing for an ambitious 7-year action plan to achieve progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)–the key to achieve global economic recovery.

Addressing the Development Ministers from G20 and invitee countries on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that the action plan focuses on three core agendas that rests on bridging the digital divide, investing in women and ensuring globally just transitions for a greener planet.

Highlighting India’s success in improving governance through digital means, Jaishankar said that “Data for Development and Digital Public infrastructure are needed around the world to jumpstart innovations at the grassroots level”.

He also said that investing in women-led development not only helps to speed up progress across all SDGs, but also delivers results on the ground.

Talking about balancing aspirations of people with keeping the planet green, the external affairs minister said: “Securing Globally Just transitions will help ensure the future survival of the planet, while meeting the aspirations of its diverse people”.

Jaishankar highlighted various concerns confronting the world. He said that pandemics, disruptions in supply chains, conflict and climate related events are making the world volatile and uncertain. “Added to this is stubborn inflation, rising interest rates and shrinking fiscal space for many nations. As always, in such times, the weak and the vulnerable bear the brunt”, said the minister.

He also highlighted the fact that economic recovery will not be easy due to “supply chain disruptions, prolonged debt crisis and pressures on energy, food and fertilizer security”.

He blamed not only conflicts and pandemics but also the fact that international priorities have fragmented wherein “some goals are deemed more important than others. Such cherry picking is not in our collective interest”, the minister said.

After assuming presidentship of the G20 nations, India has been voicing the aspirations and the problems faced by the developing nations. Also, earlier during the year, the country also promised to be a voice for the Global South and articulate their concerns before the bigger global community.

India has been articulating its concerns in global fora at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings, through its membership of the Quad, the Brazil Russia India China and South Africa summit (BRICS) and at UN meets.

Highlighting the importance of the G20 theme – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, Jaishankar said that as ‘One Earth’, “we must demonstrate solidarity for those in need”, and not leave anybody behind.

He said that as ‘One Family’, “… we need to integrate our approaches, build systems that leverage synergies rather than rely on trade-offs”.

Speaking on his vision of ‘One Future’, the minister said, “we must keep the aspirations of our young people at the center of our actions. Our actions today must not put their future in danger. We must invest in our collective future today and ensure that it is built on the foundations of equality, mutual respect and solidarity”.

The minister also spoke about global inequity and said that the international community has to speak up for those who are most in need. He highlighted that global governance has to be strengthened for the protection of Global Order, Global Laws, and Global Values.

Jaishankar said that the G20 Summit, the SDG Summit, the COP28 and the Summit of the Future will be organised in the coming months and “it is in our hands to shape the discussions at these future forums. We must put the development agenda at the heart of these discussions”.

Underlining the importance of the G20, the minister said that the group has to come together to address the numerous problems confronting the world. He hoped that the Action Plan the Development Ministers adopt in Varanasi will help guide the G20 leaders in giving direction to global economic recovery and a sustainable future.