Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Working Session II: One Family, G20 Leaders’ Summit, New Delhi, India

Your Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and President of the G20,

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,

Representatives of International Organisations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

South Africa welcomes the Indian Presidency’s efforts to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The achievement of the SDGs must remain at the centre of international financing discussions to ensure that finance is mobilised in sufficient quantities and of suitable quality to support development in low- and middle-income countries.

We continue to face an unsteady global economic recovery. As policy makers, we therefore need to be flexible and respond quickly and appropriately to risk. 

Multilateral cooperation is critical to addressing food and energy insecurity.

As African countries, we support a discussion on policy options to address the effects of volatility in food and energy markets.

Our experience of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic sends a clear message that global health security is paramount. 

There is need to develop robust global one health surveillance systems that promote effective collaboration at national, regional and global level. 

We urgently need a coordination mechanism that supports the sharing of information and resources, research, outbreak investigation and response. 

We must be committed to strengthening the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and support ongoing engagement on how this proposed architecture will be funded.

South Africa welcomes the Indian Presidency’s focus on women’s empowerment as part of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

South Africa has embarked on a journey of ensuring the empowerment of women. The education of girls must be prioritised. We must act to end gender-based violence and enable women to enter the mainstream of economic activity. 

We are indeed One Family. 

As G20 nations, we must drive the transformation of economies and societies in pursuit of mutual prosperity, inclusive growth and a shared future.

I thank you.