India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared key insights on tackling global challenges during a panel discussion in New York on September 28. Speaking at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) event titled “At The Heart of Development – Aid, Trade & Technology,” he discussed how countries like India are adapting to a fast-changing world.
Jaishankar highlighted responses to global shifts, including technology, multi-polarity, self-reliance, and south-south cooperation. “These form one basket to deal with what’s happening,” he said, stressing the need for big nations to build stronger capacities and focus on self-reliance— a top priority for India.
He explained that creating multi-polarity starts at home by boosting national strengths. Once countries gain those experiences, they can share them with others. For instance, Jaishankar pointed to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model. “Many societies find our DPI approach more practical and relevant than European or American versions,” he noted, making it easier for them to adopt.
Turning to the global workforce, Jaishankar said the world needs skilled workers everywhere to meet growing demands. Demographics play a big role—some countries simply can’t fill the gaps on their own. While debates rage over housing and borders, the reality is clear: we can’t ignore this. He called for a fresh, efficient model that spreads talent across a distributed global workplace, making it fair and modern for everyone.
On trade, Jaishankar observed that deals flow more smoothly today thanks to better physical links and digital tools. Despite hurdles, trade interfaces have never been this seamless in history. As the world re-engineers itself, expect new trade arrangements to pop up. Countries will seek fresh partners and regions, driven by needs in technology, connectivity, and work setups. “We’ll end up in a very different world sooner than we think,” he added.
Jaishankar is currently in the US, where he addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly earlier. There, he reaffirmed India’s readiness to take on bigger global responsibilities.
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