PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Africa Skills & Counter-Terror Initiatives at G20 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, announced three major global initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive growth, strengthening skills, preserving traditional knowledge and intensifying global cooperation against the drug-terror nexus.

In his intervention, PM Modi emphasised that global financial and developmental systems must prioritise “leaving no one behind”, underscoring India’s call for a more inclusive, equitable and people-centric global order.

1. Global Traditional Knowledge Repository

PM Modi proposed the creation of a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, modelled on India’s successful Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL).

The initiative aims to:

• Document global traditional knowledge systems

• Prevent bio-piracy

• Promote fair access and benefit sharing

• Support sustainable innovation

This repository is expected to strengthen intellectual property rights for indigenous communities worldwide.

2. G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative

A key highlight of PM Modi’s address was a skills partnership with Africa.

The initiative proposes:

• Training one million trainers across the African continent

• Building a scalable skills ecosystem

• Supporting youth employment and digital capacity

• Strengthening India–Africa development cooperation

This aligns with India’s long-standing commitment to African capacity-building under frameworks such as ITEC and the India–Africa Forum Summit.

3. G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus

PM Modi also called for a coordinated global strategy to dismantle the drug–terrorism connection, specifically citing the threat posed by synthetic narcotics like fentanyl.

The proposal focuses on:

• Strengthening cross-border intelligence sharing

• Tracking illicit financial flows

• Disrupting narcotics supply chains

• Breaking the link between drug trafficking networks and terrorism financing

India underscored that narcotics and terrorism are “global threats requiring a unified global response.”

A Call for Inclusive Global Governance

India Today’s Pranay Upadhyay reported that PM Modi stressed the need for inclusive global financial management, noting that development goals cannot be met unless all regions — especially the Global South — benefit equally from economic growth.

The proposals collectively reinforce India’s focus on:

• Technology-enabled development

• Global South partnerships

• Cultural knowledge preservation

• Hard-security cooperation on counterterrorism