Abu Dhabi hosts inaugural Global South Economic Forum amid calls for new economic order

The first Global South Economic Forum (GSEF) convened this week in Abu Dhabi,gathering over 100 delegates from more than 20 developing nations to chart a path toward a more equitable global economic system.

Held alongside the G7 Summit,the forum aimed to amplify the voice of the Global South amid shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes. Organized by the Center of Geoeconomics for the Global South,in partnership with leading academic and policy institutions,GSEF 2025 tackled critical issues from the $6.4 trillion sustainable development financing gap to South-South trade expansion and technological sovereignty. “The 21st century belongs to the Global South,” said Tsinghua University’s Zhao Yuezhi. “So we need a new world order. The core of this world order is multipolarity and sustainable,more equal,inclusive and resilient development.”

With the Global South now comprising 85% of the global population and over 40% of global GDP,participants emphasized the urgency of reforming international economic governance and deepening cooperation through new trade corridors and digital infrastructure. UAE Minister of State,Economic and Trade Affairs,Ahmed Al Sayegh,highlighted his country’s role as a bridge between continents,citing its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (Cepas) as a model of South-South collaboration.

“The nations of the Global South are no longer peripheral in global economic affairs,” said Al Sayegh. “They are central to shaping the agenda,contributing to ideas and advancing frameworks for equitable cooperation.”