Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg from November 21–23 to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday. The visit marks yet another significant engagement for India in the Global South, with the Prime Minister also scheduled to participate in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting during the trip.

According to the MEA, this will be the fourth consecutive G20 Summit hosted in the Global South. Modi is expected to speak in all three key sessions of the summit, which will cover some of the most urgent global priorities.

The sessions are titled Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth – Leaving No One Behind, with discussions on building strong economies, trade, development financing, and debt challenges; A Resilient World – the G20’s Contribution, focusing on disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions, and food systems; and A Fair and Just Future for All, which will address critical minerals, decent work, and the role of artificial intelligence.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders attending the gathering in Johannesburg.

South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, praised Modi’s leadership ahead of the summit, highlighting his global reputation and influence across the African continent. “It’s a given fact that Prime Minister Modi is highly respected globally within the African continent,” Sooklal said in an interview with IANS. He added that Modi’s repeated visits to the region — four to South Africa in less than a decade — underscore India’s deepening engagement with African nations.

Sooklal also credited India and Modi for their decisive role in integrating the African Union (AU) into the G20 as a full member during India’s presidency in 2023, calling it a historic milestone. “African leaders have spoken very favorably of the role that India and especially Prime Minister Modi played in ensuring that the AU is now a full member,” he said.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit, set for November 22–23, will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and economic powerhouse. The event is expected to shape global dialogue on development, climate policy, and emerging technologies, with India continuing to assert its leadership voice.