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India: Prime Minister participates in India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting in Johannesburg
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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today participated in the IBSA Leaders' Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting was hosted by the President of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and attended by the President of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
2. Describing the meeting as timely, Prime Minister noted that it coincided with the first G20 Summit on African soil and marked the culmination of four consecutive G20 presidencies by Global South countries, out of which the last three were by the IBSA members. This, he noted, has resulted in several important initiatives focussed on human-centric development, multilateral reform and sustainable growth.
3. Prime Minister emphasized that IBSA is not just a group of three countries but an important platform connecting three continents, three major democratic nations, and three major economies.
4. Prime Minister stressed that global governance institutions are far removed from 21st century realities. He called on IBSA to send a strong message that reform of institutions of global governance, in particular the UN Security Council, is now not an option, but an imperative.
5. On counter-terrorism, Prime Minister emphasized the need for close coordination and that there should be no room for double standards while fighting terrorism. Highlighting technology's crucial role in ensuring human-centric development, Prime Minister proposed establishing an 'IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance' to facilitate sharing of Digital Public Infrastructure like UPI, health platforms like CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks and women-led tech initiatives among the three countries.
6. Prime Minister also emphasized IBSA's potential to contribute to the development of safe, trustworthy and human-centric AI norms. He invited IBSA leaders to the AI Impact Summit to be held in India next year.
7. Prime Minister stated that IBSA can complement each other's development and become an example for sustainable growth. He highlighted cooperation opportunities in areas such as millets, natural farming, disaster resilience, green energy, traditional medicines and health security.
8. Appreciating the IBSA Fund's work in supporting projects across forty countries in sectors like education, health, women empowerment and solar energy, Prime Minister proposed IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture to further advance South-South cooperation. Prime Minister's full speech can be found [here].
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India.Prime Minister Støre visits Norwegian-owned solar power plant in South Africa
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On 21 November Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited a Norwegian-owned solar power plant in South Africa. The company that owns the plant has provided renewable energy to 200 000 households, and a number of Norwegian companies are now investing in solar power in South Africa.
‘Some 600 million people on the African continent lack access to electricity. At the same time, Africa has an abundance of sunshine, which is a good source of renewable energy. I had the chance to see how Norwegian companies are helping to produce renewable energy. This solar energy plant is serving both to reduce emissions and create growth,' said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Big plans
The Prime Minister visited the Damlaagte and Ilikwa solar power plants in the Free State province in South Africa. The facilities were developed by Mainstream Renewable Power, in which Norway's Aker Horizons ASA is a major shareholder. Together, these two power plants will be able to supply electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of roughly 120 000 households.
South Africa is currently highly dependent on coal, which accounts for approximately 85 % of the country's power production.
‘Norway is an energy nation, and our knowledge and expertise are making a difference far beyond our own borders. These solar power plants are an excellent example of how Norwegian investments are being used to advance the green transition across the world. Plants such as this also create new jobs,' said the Prime Minister.
The Damlaagte project employed more than 1 700 workers during its construction and has a permanent staff of 19 to oversee operations. Mainstream Renewable Power has developed and built 850 MW of renewable energy generation assets in South Africa and is planning to establish a further 12 GW in the coming years. This is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 2.8 million households.
Public and private
‘This project demonstrates how private companies and the public sector can work together to achieve common goals. Norad provided NOK 20 million in grants for feasibility studies. This made it possible to identify and lower potential risks to companies, which facilitated realisation of the project. Norway can help to accelerate the energy transition by making profitable investments, and sharing its technology, knowledge and experience. This is an approach that we are proud to support,' said the Prime Minister.
Norway is investing widely in renewable energy development in South Africa. Norway is supporting South Africa's long-term plan to phase out coal, and helping to mitigate the country's energy crisis and implement the green transition. Norwegian companies such as Scatec, Aker ASA (through Mainstream Renewable Power), Magnora, and Valinor/Norsk Renewables have won numerous tenders for projects in South Africa since 2010, including projects involving large solar power plants, wind farms and hybrid systems combining solar power and battery storage systems.
Norfund (the Norwegian investment fund for developing countries) has invested approximately NOK 5 billion in South Africa, predominantly in renewable energy efforts. These investments have helped to boost capacity, create new jobs and reduce emissions.
Facts
- Some 40 % of the world's electricity now comes from non-fossil sources. Renewable energy production, especially solar power, has expanded more rapidly than previously anticipated.
- In 2024 approximately 15 times more solar power was installed than the International Energy Agency's estimated in its World Energy Outlook 2015 . At the global level, four times more solar power has been installed than the IEA forecasted in 2015.
- 600 million people on the African continent lack access to electricity. This lowers the standard of living and poses obstacles to development.
- South Africa is currently highly dependent on coal, which accounts for approximately 85 % of the country's power production. A number of Norwegian companies are investing in South Africa to advance the green transition.
Emirates Rawabi and ReFarm Global unite to transform agriculture and landscaping in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
In a landmark step toward transforming the UAE's agricultural and food production landscape, Emirates Rawabi PSC (www.EmiratesRawabi.ae), one of the nation's leading integrated agribusiness groups, has entered into a strategic partnership with ReFarm Global Investments LLC (https://ReFarmTheWorld.com), a pioneer in regenerative and circular sustainability technologies. This collaboration is set to revolutionize not only the UAE's food production systems but also change the landscaping industry, establishing a new benchmark for sustainable urban and agricultural growth across the region.
Together, they will drive a new model of circular agribusiness, creating cost-efficient, carbon-conscious, and regenerative solutions to strengthen food security, enhance soil health, and drastically reduce water use across the UAE's farming and food production systems. Beyond agriculture, this initiative will also extend its impact to urban environments and landscaped areas, supporting sustainable living and greener communities. In line with the leadership's vision to make Dubai the most beautiful, advanced, and liveable city in the world, this collaboration will help develop a sustainable master plan for urban greening, improve irrigation efficiency, reduce the urban heat island effect, and enhance the sustainability of Dubai's parks and green ecosystems. It will redefine the landscaping industry for future developments, promoting eco-efficient design, reduced water consumption, and the creation of resilient green spaces that align with the UAE's long-term vision for a sustainable and regenerative future.
A partnership for the future of food
This collaboration combines Emirates Rawabi's extensive expertise in dairy, poultry, feed, and food production with ReFarm's breakthrough technologies in agricultural waste-to-value systems, regenerative soil enhancement, and air, soil, and water optimization.
The partnership aims to create a sustainable food ecosystem that regenerates rather than depletes, by improving soil vitality, optimizing resources, and ensuring food production that is both economically and environmentally efficient.
“Our mission is to restore the balance between nature, technology, and progress,” said Oliver Christof, CEO of ReFarm Global Investments LLC. “Through this collaboration, we will empower farmers, urban developers, and food producers with innovative and cost-efficient systems that strengthen food security, while preserving our most valuable resources like air, soil and water.”
“We share a common vision to make the UAE a global leader in regenerative and circular agriculture. Our technologies help farmers grow healthier crops with less water, improve soil quality, and create a new balance between productivity and preservation,” he added.
Sustainable farming solutions from soil to plate
“This partnership marks a key milestone in our sustainability journey. At Emirates Rawabi, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Through Emirates Rawabi Sustainable Solutions (ERSS), we operate a circular model integrating biogas, solar energy, and advanced water treatment, making our operations responsible, efficient, and resilient. We understand our responsibilities to the environment and also to our communities,” stated Mazen Al Refae, Group CEO of Emirates Rawabi PSC.
“Together with ReFarm, we are implementing practical, scalable solutions that redefine sustainable farming from soil to plate and raise the standard for sustainable farming, strengthen circularity, and deliver measurable environmental impact.”
Through this partnership, Emirates Rawabi and ReFarm Global Investments will develop and implement pilot projects across the UAE that showcase circular agriculture in action from waste valorization to regenerative soil and water systems. The initiative supports the UAE's national goals for food security, climate action, and sustainable development, positioning the country as a global example of how innovation can create a thriving, low-carbon organic agricultural future.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ReFarm Global Investments LLC.Contact:
Enzo Ploder
Enzo@refarmglobal.com
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