G-15 and the world order

Sarath WIJESINGHE -Ambassador to United Arab Emirates

G-15, a group of likeminded economies, with common issues is directing its energy towards creating a new world order

G -15 is an informal group of nations from world over. They are Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

It is an international organization based on economies which cover one third of the globe. Sri Lanka took over the leadership of the Organization yesterday in Tehran. During the tenure of the chairmanship of Iran, many current financial and other economic issues were discussed and implemented. From May 17 President Mahinda Rajapaksa who handed over the SAARC leadership will have a different responsibility of giving leadership to over 15 nations with high per capita, oil rich and rich in various ways.

G-15 like G-5 and G-17 are predominantly economic unions which have now identified areas of cooperation for the benefit of member nations. G-15 was established at the summit level of Non-Aligned Summit in 1989 and has gone through Summits in various parts of the world with agreements, MoUs and declarations which have benefited the peoples of the member nations. It has had direct and indirect benefits to the member nations and the world at large.

The objectives of the organization are mainly economic cooperation and acting as a catalyst for a greater South-South cooperation. It helps harness potential for greater and mutual benefit to conduct regular reviews to serve as a forum to identify and improve new schemes and to pursue more positive and productive North-South dialogues. The projects launched by G-15 are enormous. Those are on varied fields such as development, stock exchange, computer training, banking, industries, vocational training, nuclear science, education, and transfer of technology and human resources.

During summits the countries enter into trade agreements benefiting member countries and generally the economic world order. India and Malaysia have linked for cultural projects and Sri Lanka and Indonesia have taken steps to exchange agricultural technology. India and Sri Lanka have taken steps to build power plants. Iranian goods expo was held in Sri Lanka and Iran and Malaysia have signed a gas contract.

This indicates how the members have explored the potentials and resources of the respective nations jointly for the benefit of the members as a group. Some projects are very innovative. Recent research has found that four G-15 countries are among five top countries in bio production. Iran has signed a 16 million gas deal with Malaysia. President Mahinda Rajapaksa concluded his official visit to Iran with eight Memoranda of Understandings in various areas.

This indicates the potential of the group and how these nations can independently rise above others using their knowledge experience and resources. The countries though not geographically close have many bonds and similarities. They have the opportunity to learn and train from experience worldwide.

From May 17 Sri Lanka will be a major player in international economics and politics as an emerging world leader. President Rajapaksa has elevated to the position of an experienced and recognized world leader who is capable of leading with experience that he has gained after having performed the impossible task of crushing the most ruthless terrorist outfit.

This is the time for Sri Lanka to rise above and President Mahinda Rajapaksa to convert Sri Lanka to the miracle and Wonder of Asia by harnessing the experience of friends of the world family.

Now that Sri Lanka has the goodwill of the SAARC, the Asia, the Non-Aligned Movement, G-15 and the West it is time for the world family to look forward to a new world order with adjustments and improvements. One of the main aims and mandates of G-15 is reforms to the United Nations and restructure the old and outdated management which needs urgent changes.

It has been discussed and decided by the G-15 that the UN should be changed according to the current needs and the monopoly of the Security Council in which the five world powers have concentrated the entire power in them should be shared and distributed to the general membership. The new emerging world powers should be recognized and given their due place.

India is heading to be a world power soon and it is nothing but fair to give it the due place. The world family does not require self appointed super powers dictating terms on the sovereign nations on sharing of wealth, human rights and freedoms for which different definitions are given on selfish moves and reasons.

G-15 is an opportunity for likeminded economies to discuss it in the shade of freedom utility and with an atmosphere of understanding of each other’s problems with non dictatorial environment. All G-15 countries have many issues in common. They are innovative modern and waiting for change and development.

They adore freedom and recognition of independence and economic stability. All the nations have laid the foundation for tighter economies and the peoples of the nations geared to new developments and challenges based on sovereign equality and the urge for development. Sri Lanka faces monopolies of gas providers. It is our opportunity to use the goodwill for a continuous supply of gas from these friendly G-15 nations.

Iran and Malaysia have signed a gas contract for 1.2 billion euros which generates 600 million cubic of gas per day and another 16 billion dollar deal was closed to develop Iran gas field and setting up of natural gas plants in Iran and Malaysia.