Voices of Global South Summit (VOGSS)

20.11.2023

Voices of Global South Summit (VOGSS) , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

Why in the news?

Recently India hosted the second Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS) in virtual format in 2023.

Important points:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated a global center of excellence called Dakshin for Global South countries at the conference.
  • This Global South Center of Excellence will focus on research related to developmental issues of developing countries.
• He also called for 5 'C's' for the Global South: consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity and capacity building.
• Here the term Global South does not mean geographical but the developing and less developed countries of the world.

About the 2nd Voices of the Global South Summit:

• Strengthening its commitment to promote an integrated and progressive approach among developing countries, the second Voice of the Global South Summit was hosted by India.
• The summit also discussed solutions to the challenges posed by global development and ways to maintain momentum towards a more inclusive and progressive world order.
• Objective: The summit aims to address critical global challenges and enhance cooperation in the global south.
• Focus: Focused on sharing the outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings during India's Chairmanship.
• It was structured into 10 sessions, with the opening and closing sessions held at Head of State/Government level and 8 ministerial sessions.
  • The theme of its inaugural session has been kept - Together, for all development, with all confidence.
  • The theme of its concluding session has been kept as – Global South: Together for One Future.
• VOGSS not only serves as a platform to share the outcomes of the G20 meetings with the Global South, but also as a venue to promote collective strategies for a more inclusive and representative world order .
• About 130 countries from Latin America and Caribbean countries, Africa, Asia and Pacific Islands have participated in this summit.

8 Ministerial Session:

• The summit also held eight ministerial sessions on the following topics:
• Foreign Ministers' Session on "India and the Global South: Emerging Together for a Better Future"
• Education Ministers' session on "Preparing Human Resources for the Future"
• Finance Ministers' session on "Financing People-Centric Development"
• Environment Ministers' Session on "Sustainable Solutions for Climate Resilience and Climate Finance”
• Foreign Ministers' Session on "The Global South and One Development"
• Energy Ministers' Session on "Affordable and Inclusive Energy Transition for Sustainable Development"
• Health Ministers' session on "One Health Solutions from the Global South"
• Commerce/Trade Ministers' Session on "The Global South and Resilient Supply Chains".

About Voice of Global South Summit:

• The Voice of the Global South Summit was launched as the first VOGSS in January, 2023 during India's presidency of the G20.
• The objective of which was to make development of the people, by the people and for the people the focus of India's G20 presidency (2023).
• The theme of the first VOGSS was 'Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose'.
• At that time, the summit was held in virtual format, with a total of 10 sessions.
• The conference saw the participation of leaders and ministers from 125 countries of the Global South, including India.

About Global South:

• The Global South refers to countries where the level of economic and industrial development is relatively low, and are usually located to the south of more industrialized countries.
• It was first used by political activist Carl Oglesby in 1969.
• However, the traditional list of nations making up the Global South is vague, given that these nations now span a wide spectrum of economic development.