The result is a more distributed and inclusive global economic architecture—one increasingly shaped by the ambitions, capabilities and partnerships of the global south.

The global south now accounts for nearly 85% of humanity and close to 40% of the world’s GDP. Over the coming decade, global goods trade is projected to reach $32.6 trillion, with the global south driving nearly half of all exports.

These numbers reflect a fundamental rebalancing: the world is no longer trading through the global south—it is trading with the global south, and increasingly within it.

Intra-Asian trade has already surged to 59% of Asia’s total commerce. Trade corridors linking South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and West Asia are growing faster than the global average, creating new avenues for investment, innovation and supply-chain diversification.

According to economists, by 2030, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa will rank among the five fastest-growing economic regions in the world. As two-thirds of the global middle class emerges from the global south this decade, the scale of consumption will reshape global markets, from digital services to manufacturing to sustainable energy.

This expanding economic network is also becoming more self-reliant. The global south is trading more within its own ecosystem, investing more in long-term partnerships and advancing breakthroughs across sectors.

Its future will be shaped by shared priorities: resilience, inclusion, sustainability and locally relevant innovation.

The 2023 G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration captured this spirit by calling for a more representative, secure and digitally enabled global growth model—an agenda that resonates deeply with emerging economies.

In this evolving order, India is emerging as a pivotal force. Its rise combines scale, innovation and purpose in a way few nations can replicate.

From pioneering digital public infrastructure that delivers real-time financial inclusion to providing vaccines and essential pharmaceuticals to more than 150 countries, India has demonstrated that development solutions can be both scalable and globally accessible.

These achievements are not accidental; they are built on decades of strengthening institutions, investing in human capital and leveraging technology as an equaliser.

India’s deepening economic relationships across Africa, Latin America and West Asia enhance its ability to shape South-South cooperation.

Its development partnerships—from digital identity systems to renewable energy collaborations—carry an appeal rooted in shared experience and practical adaptability.

India's model is not just about providing solutions; it is about co-creating them with partner nations, making its engagement distinctive, trusted and long-term.

Going forward, India’s growth will be powered by a dual engine: a globally competitive services sector and high-end, value-added manufacturing in electronics, renewable energy, defence and semiconductors.

This balanced expansion will enable India to participate more strongly in global value chains while also contributing to the supply-chain resilience of partner nations.

Growth corridors stretching across West Asia, Africa and Latin America will become hubs of collaboration in energy transition, digital infrastructure, food security and circular manufacturing. These linkages will strengthen not only India’s position but the capacity of the global south as a whole.

Government-led innovation has played a crucial role in India’s ascent so far. The next stage, however, will require Indian businesses to deepen their global ambitions.

Outward direct investment has grown significantly, reflecting confidence and readiness among Indian firms to build ecosystems abroad rather than merely exporting to them.

Indian companies in FMCG, financial services, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications are expanding their footprint across emerging markets, bringing with them not only capital but also technology, employment and shared growth.

India’s continued development will also be supported by sustained investments in rural infrastructure.

Electrification, logistics networks, water access, sanitation and healthcare have become powerful accelerators of rural productivity and national competitiveness.

These investments are not social spending but growth multipliers that expand markets, unlock labour participation and raise living standards.

In the digital era, India has the potential to emerge as an AI infrastructure provider for emerging economies.

By building large-scale data centres, exporting computersand developing AI platforms suited to local needs, India can offer sovereign and affordable alternatives to Western digital ecosystems.

This opportunity mirrors the software revolution that once made India the world’s technology talent hub. Today, it can become the backbone of digital transformation across the global south.

India’s rise is steady, deliberate and grounded in a vision of inclusive prosperity. As the world’s economic centre of gravity shifts southward, India has both the opportunity and responsibility to guide this moment toward a more equitable, more connected future.