India suggests G77 should not get distracted by bilateral issues

India has suggested that the Group of 77 or G77 that comprises Global South should not get distracted by bilateral issues and the working methods and procedures must be credible, open, consultative and transparent, and codified to avoid ambiguities. New Delhi further suggested that G77 should consider a new name as the membership has nearly doubled to have empirical weight at the United Nations.

“…the Group of 77 came together to speak in one voice at the UN on economic and developmental challenges. We should not get distracted by bilateral issues,” MEA Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma said while addressing the G77 meet in Havana on September 15-16.

Verma was representing External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at G77 who had to stay back in India due to the Special session of the Indian Parliament.


“…let us reinforce the unity and solidarity of the Group. Consensus has been our guiding principle and must be honoured. Chair’s ruling should be an exception, and not an operating norm. Our working methods and procedures must be credible, open, consultative and transparent, and codified to avoid ambiguities,” Verma noted.

“…In 1964, we were 77 member states. Today we have nearly doubled, but keep the same name and undersell our own case. Don’t we deserve a name that reflects our numerical strength and our empirical weight at the United Nations?”

Verma recalled that the developing world is central to India’s G20 Presidency. “Earlier this year, we hosted a Voice of the Global South Summit consultations with 125 states, which eventually found expression in the New Delhi G20 leaders Declaration.”

India has mainstreamed Global South’s concern in the G20. The agreement under the finance track, on more effective MDBs with consensus on a debt relief framework for Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia. Implementation of recommendations on Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) could possibly increase additional lending by MDBs by 200 billion dollars over the next decade and assist developing countries in fiscal distress.

Verma pointed out, “…we take great pride in our Presidency, as Africa – represented by the African Union – for the very first time now, deservedly sits at the high table of a global body, like the G20. By delivering on his promise to Africa, PM Modi has confirmed the representation of the developing world, including from the G77, is now at its highest in the G20…when there is a political will, reforming multilateralism is possible.”