India’s remarkable progress in digital transformation and its steadfast commitment to achieving the SDGs is uniquely inspiring,” said Mr Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, as he concluded his four-day visit to India on 7 February.
The visit focused on one of his key priorities — ‘turbocharging the SDGs through digitalisation’.
In New Delhi, Yang met Indian President Smt. Droupadi Murmu, who praised his leadership in the adoption of the Pact for the Future last September. During the meeting, she reaffirmed India’s commitment to championing the Global South and advancing UN priorities.
Yang also held talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on strengthening UN-India collaboration, addressing global challenges, and the need for reformed multilateralism.
During his time in the capital, Yang engaged with the UN Country Team, led by Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp, and visited a district hospital in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, to witness India’s pioneering digital health initiatives, including eVIN, CoWIN, and U-WIN. He met frontline health workers and saw firsthand how technology is enhancing healthcare access.
At Rajghat, he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, laying a wreath in his honour, before visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site at Humayun’s Tomb.
In Bengaluru, Yang visited Infosys and met co-founder Nandan Nilekani. He also engaged with tech industry leaders to explore how Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker are driving financial inclusion and empowering citizens. At the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), he learned about the institute’s sustainable initiatives and interacted with senior administrators and faculty members.