India’s Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, participated in the second G7 Development Ministers meeting held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The meeting was organised by France, which holds the G7 presidency.
During his remarks, George highlighted India’s approach to human-centric and inclusive development, which he linked to the principle of ‘Sarvodaya’, meaning the welfare and progress of all. He stressed the importance of ensuring that development reaches people across different sections of society.
George also said that development should not be viewed only in terms of providing financial assistance. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, he emphasised the importance of building domestic capabilities and strengthening resilience so that countries can develop stronger and more sustainable systems of their own.
He referred to India’s development partnership initiatives while presenting this approach at the G7 meeting. The emphasis was on supporting countries in developing their own capabilities rather than relying only on external financing.
The meeting brought together representatives to discuss international development issues and cooperation. India’s participation provided an opportunity for New Delhi to present its views on inclusive development and international partnerships.
George’s remarks also reflected India’s broader emphasis on development that focuses on people and long-term resilience. The approach places importance on strengthening institutions, skills and domestic capacity alongside financial support.
The G7 Development Ministers meeting was one of several high-level engagements involving George during the UN General Assembly in New York. He also participated in discussions on development and international cooperation at other meetings held on the sidelines of the UNGA.
George currently serves as Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1993 and has previously served as India’s ambassador to countries including Japan, Kuwait and Switzerland.
India’s participation at the G7 Development Ministers meeting highlighted its stated focus on inclusive growth, domestic capability-building and resilience as important elements of international development cooperation.