As world leaders gathered for the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to chart a bold vision for the final five years of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda and beyond, ‘India Day @ UNGA’ spotlighted innovative partnerships, progress, and the future for key social sector stakeholders.
On Wednesday, 24th September 2025, Reliance Foundation, the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), and the United Nations in India hosted two flagship events that showcased India’s and the Global South’s innovations through thought-provoking conversations and insights. These events aimed to help shape the concluding phase of the 2030 SDG agenda.
### Focus on Technology, AI, and India’s Leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure
The discussions at India Day @ UNGA were dominated by themes of technology, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure (DPI), and the democratisation of technology.
The event was inaugurated with an address by Ambassador Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York. In his keynote speech, Amandeep Singh Gill, Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies at the United Nations, presented a three-pronged approach to leveraging technology for South-South cooperation.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India, emphasized the country’s exploration of AI applications benefiting the social sector. Anil Malik, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, India, highlighted India’s newfound phase of women’s empowerment.
The valedictory address was delivered by Ms. Gargee Ghosh, President of Global Policy & Advocacy at the Gates Foundation.
### High-Level Ministerial Panel: ‘At the Heart of Development: Aid, Trade, and Technology’
The highlight of the 2025 edition was an evening high-level conversation entitled ‘At the Heart of Development: Aid, Trade, and Technology’, featuring a ministerial panel that explored how partnerships, technology, and trade frameworks are shaping inclusive growth across the Global South.
Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs, reflected on the evolving global order:
“A year ago, it seemed clear the world was heading towards greater unpredictability. We began by worrying about supply chains, but today’s central challenges in international relations are: how to de-risk, hedge, and build resilience. It is too simplistic now to separate the Global North and South into different baskets. We have accelerated our shift into a multipolar world.”
Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, underscored the significance of scientific leadership:
“Mexico occupies a unique geopolitical position, closely integrated with North American markets, and is one of the most dynamic economies in the region. Our President, a woman scientist, has made a profound impact. The present demands new creativity in international cooperation, with AI at the centre as new forms of interaction emerge between aid, trade, and technology.”
### Insights from Key Leaders and Partners
B Srinivasan, Executive Lead at Reliance Foundation, shared a message reflecting on India’s SDG journey:
“India’s progress towards achieving the SDGs is nothing short of remarkable. It reflects resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Our experiences offer pathways of ideas, action, and scale that can inspire the Global South and the global community. The publication *Global Goals, Indian Vision: The Last Mile to 2030*—the third volume in this important series—highlights transformative solutions rooted in India’s development journey, even as the world pushes towards the SDGs and India looks ahead to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. At Reliance Foundation, inspired by our We Care philosophy, it is our privilege to collaborate with partners, governments, and communities—sharing India’s learnings and shaping solutions to uplift lives worldwide.”
Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, noted:
“India has demonstrated exemplary leadership in SDG localisation, ensuring efforts reach every state and district by launching mission-mode programmes aligned with SDG priorities. India was also the first country to create its own subnational SDG Index. India’s commitment to the Global South is commendable — it is sharing its digital public infrastructure model with many other countries at no cost.”
Samir Saran, President of Observer Research Foundation, said:
“The Observer Research Foundation is committed to building knowledge and innovation bridges between India and its partners by investing in diverse communities across various domains. India Day @ UNGA embodies this ethos—bringing together global thinkers, businesses, and practitioners to debate and commit to the defining policy challenge of our time: sustainable development. The SDG journey mirrors India’s own development story, transforming the lives of hundreds of millions. India’s experience must inspire and call upon larger economies, financial institutions, and global bodies to recommit to building a truly people-first future.”
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, UAE, highlighted trade dynamics:
“Trade remains very resilient, but the new global order and rules are critical. The India-Middle East-Europe trade corridor will be vital in the years ahead. India-UAE bilateral trade is already rising significantly, and we expect it to reach 100 billion dollars this year.”
Leslie Vinjamuri, President and CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, USA, remarked on India’s impact:
“India has set a concrete example of how the G20 process is made and delivered.”
### Key Themes and Publication Launch
The discussions delved into India’s decade-long SDG journey, the crucial role of technology and AI in development, women’s leadership, and scalable last-mile solutions.
A key highlight was the launch of *Global Goals, Indian Vision: The Last Mile to 2030* — a publication detailing India’s SDG journey, key interventions, partnerships, collectives, and technology, along with a roadmap for development beyond 2030. This third volume in the series emphasizes the 3Ps: partnerships, people, and platforms, offering a vision for sustainable development in the post-2030 era.
[Download the publication here.]
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### About the Publication: Global Goals, Indian Vision: The Last Mile to 2030
Released during India Day @ UNGA by Reliance Foundation, Observer Research Foundation, and the United Nations in India, *Global Goals, Indian Vision* reflects on lessons from India’s SDG journey and proposes a forward-looking development template for the Global South.
The publication captures how partnerships, trade, and technology can drive inclusive growth and offers a roadmap for development leadership beyond 2030. It serves as both a record of India’s achievements towards the SDGs and a visionary document for guiding global development pathways in the coming decade.
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India Day @ UNGA 2025 demonstrated India’s dynamic leadership and innovation in sustainable development, setting a collaborative agenda for the final phase of the 2030 SDG targets and beyond.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/corporate-gallery/india-day-events-in-unga-week-spotlight-innovations-for-the-global-south
