THE Group of Seven industrialised nations have committed to promoting concrete infrastructure initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in the G7 Summit Communique issued at the end of the threeday G7 Summit, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Communique was issued on Friday evening after the customary “family photo” at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia, where the G7 also reiterated a commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” based on the rule of law. Prime Minister Modi attended the G7 Summit at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the host. “We will further promote concrete G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment) initiatives, flagship projects, and complementary initiatives to develop transformative economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investment, such as the deepening of our coordination and financing for the Lobito Corridor, the Luzon Corridor, the Middle Corridor, and the India-Middle EastEurope Economic Corridor, also building on the EU Global Gateway, the Great Green Wall Initiative, and the Mattei Plan for Africa launched by Italy,” reads the communique. Billed as a path-breaking initiative,theIMECenvisages avastroad,railroadandshipping network among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East and the West. The IMEC is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nationstogainstrategicinfluence in the face of China’s BeltandRoadInitiative(BRI) which has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations. The BRI is a mega connectivity project that connects China with Southeast Asia,CentralAsia,Russiaand Europe. The IMEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit hosted by India in Delhi last year. About the Outreach session on Friday on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterraneanaddressedby Modi, the Communique reads: “Inaspirit of shared responsibility, we warmly welcometheparticipation of the Leaders of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. “We will stepupourefforts to enhance interoperability amongst our AI governance approaches to promote greater certainty, transparency and accountability while recognizing that approaches and policy instrumentsmayvaryacross G7 members.

We will take a risk-basedapproach in these efforts as we seek to foster innovationandstrong,inclusive,andsustainablegrowth.” Amongtheotherpriorities of the summit’s agenda, the communique registers “unwavering support” for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. It notes: “With a view to supportingUkraine’scurrent and future needs in the face of a prolonged defence against Russia, the G7 will launch Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, in order to make available approximatelyUSD50billioninadditional funding to Ukraine by the end of the year. “Therefore,without prejudice to possible other contributions and standing together, the G7 intends to providefinancingthatwillbe servicedandrepaidbyfuture flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions.

To enable this, we will work to obtain approval in these jurisdictions to use future flows of these extraordinary revenuestoserviceandrepay the loans.” Pope Francis became the first pontiff to join the participants of the G7 hosted by Italy–USPresidentJoeBiden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President EmmanuelMacron,Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. PM MODI LEAVES FOR HOME AFTER CONCLUDING DAY-LONG VISIT TO ITALY TO ATTEND G7 SUMMIT: PRIME Minister Narendra ModionFridayleft forhomeafterconcludinghis day-long visit to Italy during which he attended the G7 summit and held bilaterals with several world leaders including British Prime MinisterRishi Sunak, French PresidentEmmanuelMacron and Pope Francis. In an address at an Outreach session of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia region, Modi calledforendingthemonopoly in technology and said it must be made creative to lay the foundation of an inclusive society. Sahitya Akademi announces