New Delhi: The Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr. Raj kumar Ranjan Singh inaugurated the 7th IBSA Academic Forum which is being held virtually on 11-12 August 2021.
MOS in his remarks said that India, Brazil and South Africa, united in their practise of democratic ideals and longstanding battle against uprooting colonial legacies, have high stakes in expediting reforms of multilateral bodies including the UN, the IMF, the World Bank, the WTO and the WHO. He highlighted that alliances in the Global South can help implement the development agenda with values of equality, non-conditionality, and non-interference at its core, while stressing the centrality of the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and respective capabilities. MOS also appreciated the efforts under the ongoing IBSA fellowship programme and making an indelible contribution to advancing partnership and collaboration. He also noted the IBSA Fund which has performed exceptionally well all through these years since its inception, and represents a model of cooperation that truly reinforces the ‘southern development’ narrative and advances multilateral solutions for achieving SDGs.
The two-day event is being hosted by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), an autonomous think-tank of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. It features a conversation with IBSA Sherpas on economic partnerships that will, among other things, help economic integration and cooperation in creating resilient value chains post-Pandemic, accelerate the digital and green transition processes. The Forum, being held in the virtual format due to the COVID-19-related mobility curbs, also focuses on strengthening IBSA development cooperation initiatives. The event has three topical plenary sessions – on ‘Post-Pandemic imperatives for access to finance and economic recovery’; ‘IBSA cooperation on trade and resilient value chains’; and on ‘creating post-pandemic resilience through technology and inclusive social sector development.’
India is the incumbent Chair of IBSA. IBSA is a unique Forum which brings together India, Brazil and South Africa, three large democracies and major economies from three different continents, facing similar challenges. IBSA’s success demonstrates, most vividly, the desirability and feasibility of South-South cooperation beyond the conventional areas of exchange of experts and training.