India becomes vocal voice of emerging-developing countries by making African Union a member of G20

India's presidency of the G-20 has proved to be historic for the Union of African Nations (AU) to become a part of this group of the world's largest economies. The African Union was granted permanent membership in this global platform at the New Delhi G-20 Summit.

At the inauguration of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the inclusion of the African Union as the 21st permanent member of this world forum following the consensus reached in talks with global leaders. By paving the way for AU's G20 membership, India has established itself as the strongest voice for countries with developing and emerging economies.

India, which is hosting the G-20 summit of leaders of the world's most economically influential countries for the first time, set the agenda for the meeting to move in a positive direction by granting permanent membership to the African Union at the very beginning of the inaugural session. The effect of this was that leaving behind all the doubts and doubts, the joint declaration of the top leaders was not only agreed upon but it was also announced on the very first day.

This is the first expansion of this influential forum since the inception of the G20 World Forum. At the very beginning of the meeting, PM Modi proposed to the member countries to include the African Union, the major block of the Global South, in the G-20, which was accepted by all the leaders. The PM said that keeping in mind the spirit of Sabka Saath, India should give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union and we all agree on this proposal.

Amidst applause from world leaders at Pragati Maidan's Bharat Mandap, PM Modi invited African Union Chairman Azali Assoumani to come to the G20 leaders' dais. After this, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar escorted Ajali to Assoumani's seat at the table of leaders of this forum. Before sitting on the permanent member's seat, the AU chief hugged and shook hands with PM Modi very warmly.

The PMO subsequently said in the ex-post that pursuing a more inclusive G20 reflects the aspirations of the Global South and PM Modi warmly welcomes President Azali of the African Union and Comoros. The Union of African Nations comprises 55 countries on the African continent and has been striving for G20 membership for a long time. The GDP of the member countries of the African Union is about three trillion US dollars and the population is about 1.4 billion.

It was also disappointed in the Bali summit last year. During the press conference, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar described the granting of permanent membership to AU as proof of the special impression of India and PM Modi on the G20 and said that in Indonesia last year, Prime Minister Modi had assured the then Chairman of the African Union of getting membership.

Jaishankar said that the PM had also told the AU chief that this is Modi's guarantee and today by making the African Union a permanent member of the G20, the PM has fulfilled this guarantee. In the past, India has consistently been at the forefront in vocally raising the concerns, challenges, and aspirations of the global south or developing countries, especially the African continent, on the world stage.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who came to New Delhi to attend the G20 meeting along with the President of the African Union, has expressed his happiness at making African countries a part of this world forum.