Evian, France (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the creation of new international mechanisms to support developing countries affected by ongoing geopolitical disruptions in West Asia, proposing a Global Skills Partnership along with a fresh connectivity and trade initiative for the Global South.
Addressing the outreach session titled “Reviving a Balanced, Shared and Sustainable Economic Growth for All” at the G7 Summit, Narendra Modi said global economic progress should not be assessed solely through GDP or trade volumes, but through a broader lens that asks “growth for whom, with whom and in what direction”.
Welcoming the French presidency’s focus on inclusive growth, the Prime Minister said India’s development model has consistently demonstrated how large-scale inclusion can translate aspirations into tangible outcomes.
“India’s growth story is one of inclusion, scale and democratic empowerment,” Modi said, reiterating the guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”.
India Highlights Role in Global Development Frameworks
Modi pointed to India’s G20 presidency and initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as examples of efforts to promote shared prosperity and strengthen global connectivity.
He warned that ongoing tensions in West Asia are disrupting global supply chains, particularly in fuel, fertiliser and food, and their impact will continue to be felt strongly across developing economies.
“If we truly aim to strengthen global solidarity, the most vulnerable nations must not be left alone to absorb the burden of such crises,” he said, calling for greater responsibility from international financial institutions.
Proposal for Expanded Connectivity Initiative
The Prime Minister proposed expanding the IMEC framework to include Africa, Latin America and Pacific Island nations. He also suggested a new global platform titled International Mobilisation Partnership for Accelerating Connectivity and Trade (IMPACT).
According to Modi, the initiative could combine G7 financial strength, India’s skilled workforce, and the developmental priorities of Global South countries to accelerate infrastructure and trade connectivity.
Global Skills Partnership for Workforce Mobility
Highlighting demographic shifts worldwide, Modi noted that while many advanced economies are ageing, countries like India have a large and skilled young population.
To leverage this advantage, he proposed a Global Skills Partnership that would enable skill mapping, structured training, and trusted mobility of professionals across countries.
He said such a framework would help match global labour demand with talent availability while ensuring safer and more regulated migration pathways for skilled workers.
Focus on Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
The Prime Minister’s remarks came amid growing global concerns over economic instability triggered by conflicts in West Asia and their impact on supply chains and inflation.
He stressed that future economic frameworks must be designed to ensure resilience, inclusivity and long-term sustainability, particularly for developing and emerging economies.
The proposals are expected to contribute to ongoing discussions on reforming global economic governance and strengthening cooperation between advanced economies and the Global South.
