Global South countries, as a grouping of emerging markets and developing countries, are poised to exert a stronger influence within the Group of 20 (G20), backed by robust growth rates and increasing economic clout, as highlighted by experts ahead of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Wang Lei, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and a member of Think 20, a think tank for the G20, said global trade and economic data point to the increasing strength and influence of the Global South within the G20, a crucial international platform for global economic cooperation.
"According to the recently released IMF report, even for this year and for the coming years, the developing countries' general growth pace will be much higher than the developed countries in general," Wang said.
Experts noted that many of these Global South countries possess abundant natural resources and a skilled workforce. However, they grapple with significant challenges such as social inequality and poverty, necessitating urgent financial support.
"Of course, emerging markets are becoming more confident for G20 as you would expect, and with the increasing economic clout that they also have, and we do see rising tensions particularly along the geopolitical lines, we also see the first signs of fragmentation of trade. So, what we really need is a multinational cooperation," said Ralph Ossa, chief economist at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Between 2022 and 2025, the G20 summit is hosted in Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Therefore, experts suggest that the series of G20 presidencies held by emerging economies has further bolstered the advancement of the Global South agenda within the G20.
"On the one hand, the Global South will put forward, will introduce more new vehicles in terms of multilateral governance, at same time it's also very important to further reform international mechanism," Wang said.
The 19th G20 Summit is set to take place from Nov. 18 to 19. Under the Brazilian Presidency in the summit, there are three priorities: fighting inequality, promoting social inclusion and fighting hunger; combating climate change, promoting energy transition and sustainable development; and reforming global governance institutions. All will involve practical discussions and collaboration among involved countries and organizations.
Global South countries gain growing influence in G20: expert
Palestinians are pinning their hopes on the newly-formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NGAC), believing the body can play a key role in alleviating the suffering and improving the living conditions of people across the Gaza Strip amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The Palestinian technocratic committee was formed on Jan. 16 to temporarily administer the post-war Gaza Strip, with a Palestinian source saying on Sunday that members of the committee are now preparing to enter the enclave to begin their work.
Hamas has previously reaffirmed its readiness to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to the committee and to facilitate its mission, while the Palestinian presidency also announced its support for the body, emphasizing the importance of linking institutions in the West Bank and Gaza and rejecting the establishment of parallel administrative, legal, or security systems that could deepen division.
Residents in the Gaza Strip expect the committee will have the capacity to help rebuild the devastated enclave, despite the enormous challenges brought by the brutal war between Israel and Hamas which has left more than two million Palestinians in a desperately precarious situation.
"It is not the best of options, but it is the only option left for the Palestinian people. There are two aspects: the humanitarian aspect and the political aspect. The technocratic committee has nothing to do with the issue of self-determination or political rights, which is, in fact, a very serious issue, as Palestinians may wake up in the future to find themselves reduced to a mere humanitarian and reconstruction issue. However, under the current reality, and given the social and living conditions of some two million people in the Gaza Strip, neither the right to self-determination nor the international community nor the new world order cares about their daily reality. What matters to people is finding treatment and medicine, and spending the night in a tent that is not flooded and where their children do not freeze from the cold," said Thabet Al-Amour, a political analyst specializing in Palestinian affairs.
Despite these challenges, many Gazans say the committee offers a glimmer of hope which can map out a more stable future.
"We support Palestinian consensus wherever it may be, and we seek to establish this committee as a fundamental body because it is the only body that represents us as the Palestinian people and feels the pain of residents who have been crushed by war. We need it, at least as a first step, to prove to the world that Palestinians are capable of managing their own affairs, paving the way for reconstruction, a complete end to the war, and the withdrawal of the [Israeli] occupation," said Mohammed Al-Ahmad, a resident in Gaza.
Many outlined what they see as the key priorities for the committee, and believe it must act immediately to help ease the day-to-day suffering in the Gaza Strip.
"The greatest thing it can offer is to the exhausted and destitute people. We need electricity, water, solar energy, and we need real homes instead of tents that have no electricity or any of the essentials of life," said Fayez Abu Jazar, another Palestinian resident.
"We look to it with hope; hope for the lifting of injustice and alleviation of our suffering. We Palestinians need relief, travel, reconstruction, and the restoration of our rights; in short, we need everything," said Tamer Qishta, a Palestinian journalist in the region.
While the formation of the committee paves the way for the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Palestinian sources reported that three Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip, while four others were wounded in a drone attack.
Gaza-based health authorities said the death toll since the ceasefire came into effect last October has now risen to 484, with over 1,300 wounded. This brings the total number of fatalities since the conflict erupted in October 2023 to 71,657.
Gaza residents pin hopes on newly-formed committee to improve dire conditions
