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Group of Fifteen (G-15) - Origin and Development of G-15 | UPSC International Relations Notes

Last Updated on Jun 30, 2022

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The Group of Fifteen (G15) is an informal forum set up to promote cooperation and offer input to other global groups like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Group of Seven (G7, Formerly G8). Constituted at the Ninth Non-Aligned Movement Summit Meeting in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in September 1989, it is composed of nations from Latin America, Africa and Asia with a common goal of improved growth and wealth.

The G15 aims at cooperation between evolving countries in the areas of investment, trade and technology. Membership has since expanded to 18 countries, but the initial name has remained unaltered. Chile, Iran and Kenya have since joined the Group of 15, while Yugoslavia is no longer part of the group. Peru, a founding member state, decided to step out of the G15 countries in 2011. The summit-level Group brings together the evolving countries from throughout the world for encouraging South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue.

In this article, let us look at the origin and development of the Group of Fifteen, its objectives, the organizational structure, activities carried out and the G15 group of countries in detail for the UPSC IAS Exam.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 120 nations that are not officially aligned with or against any significant power bloc. After the United Nations (UN), NAM is the major grouping of nations worldwide.
The movement emerged as a consequence of the Korean War, as an endeavour by a few nations to counterbalance the swift bi-polarization of the world over the course of the Cold War, by means of which two significant powers formed blocs and embarked on a policy to pull the rest of the world into their orbits.
One of these was the pro-Soviet, communist bloc whose most known alliance was the Warsaw Pact and the other was the pro-American capitalist group of nations, many of which pertained to NATO.

South-South Cooperation

South-South cooperation is a demonstration of unity between peoples and nations of the South that contributes to their domestic well-being, their national and collective self-reliance and the accomplishment of globally accepted development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Check out this linked article on the International Development Association for UPSC exam here.

Origin and Development of the Group of Fifteen

The G 15 is an economic grouping of Third World Nations and was set up by fifteen evolving countries in 1989 at the ninth Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Belgrade as an action group with the job of a catalyst for the Third World.

The purpose was to reinforce cooperation between the world’s leading developing countries and act as a bridge to the (then) G7 industrialized countries.

The founder member-states were Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica and Venezuela from America; Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria and Zimbabwe from Africa and India, Malaysia and Indonesia from Asia.

The first G15 countries summit was conducted in Malaysia in 1990.

In 1996, 11 members of the group were among the 50 top exporters and importers of the world. Collectively, these nations accounted for 10 per cent of the world’s goods exports and 10 per cent of the world’s imports. Their population size of 1.8 billion accounts for nearly 30 per cent of the international population.

Kenya was admitted as the 16th member at the Kuala Lumpur Summit in 1997.

Sri Lanka joined in 1999.

Iran and Columbia were admitted in 2000.

The nomenclature of the group still remains the same.

Check out this linked article on the ASEAN for the UPSC examination here.

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Objectives of the Group of Fifteen
Some of the important objectives of the G15 are:

To harness the considerable potential for greater and mutually profitable cooperation between evolving countries.

To carry out an analysis of the effect of the world economic situation and the state of global relations of evolving countries.

To act as a platform for regular consultations among evolving nations with a view to coordinating policies and actions.

To determine and execute new and concrete programs for South-South cooperation and mobilize broader support for them.

To carry on a more positive and constructive North-South dialogue.

To find new ways of addressing concerns in a cooperative, productive and mutually supportive manner.

Check out this linked article on the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the UPSC examination here.

Structure of the Group of Fifteen (G15)

The ultimate decision-making body of the G15 is the yearly summit meeting of its Head of State and Government (HOS/G) which is presided over by the nation hosting the summit.

To prepare for the yearly summit and to coordinate the operation of the group, the foreign ministers of the G15 nations generally meet twice a year.

The day-to-day work of the G15 is controlled by the personal delegates of the HOS/G. These delegates meet at least four times a week and are directed in their work by a troika that comprises the present, past and future chairmen of the group.

Ministers of Trade and Economics of the G15 nations meet as and when considered necessary. In addition, other ministers of the member-states may meet when necessary.

The G15 is supported by a Technical Support Facility (TSF) premised in Geneva. The TSF operates under the direction of the Chairman for the present year and is accountable for granting fundamental and technical secretariat assistance for the activities of the group and for encouraging its objectives.

Private sector involvement in G15 activities is fostered and actively promoted. The G15 has constituted a Business Investment Forum (BIF) and a Committee on Investment, Trade and Technology (CITT) to promote engagement among the private and public sectors and among the business communities of member-states.

Steering committee (Troika)

A steering committee or Troika is made up of three foreign ministers, one from the country that hosted the preceding summit, one from the present host country and the third from the anticipated next host countries. These three ministers are accountable for oversight and coordination.

Check this linked article on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for the UPSC examination here.

Activities of Group of Fifteen

The G15 strives to search for a more equitable economic order and one of its important concerns is to bridge the rising discrepancies between the North and South.

At different global fora, the G15 has called upon the developed nations to be delicate to the necessities and preferences of the evolving nations while adopting macroeconomic policies.

The member-states have sought the reform of significant global financial and trade institutions so as to allow the utmost benefits for the less-developed nations and to integrate the evolving nations with the global economy.

As for South-South cooperation, members have taken steps to boost inter-dependency in areas such as trade, transport, exchange of information and technology, technical expertise and infrastructural advancement and, in general, to lessen their reliance on the North.

Combating poverty and unemployment is another important area of cooperation for the G15.

The G15 has also instituted a wide range of economic and technical cooperation projects. Each project is coordinated and financed by the launching nation. Projects have been created in domains such as environment, technology, education, trade and investment. G15 projects are open to participation by all evolving nations. Each of these projects is backed by a system of National Focal Points (NFPs) and controlled by the TSF.

Check out the linked article on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for the UPSC examination here.

G15 Group of Countries
As of August 2018, there are 17 member-states of the Group of Fifteen. Although the group membership has changed over time, the initial name has been retained.

Algeria

Argentina

Brazil

Chile

Egypt

India

Indonesia

Islamic Republic of Iran

Jamaica

Kenya

Malaysia

Mexico

Nigeria

Senegal

Sri Lanka

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Zimbabwe

Check out this linked article on the QUAD for the UPSC examination here.

UPSC Practice Questions on Group of Fifteen

Group of Fifteen FAQs

Is Pakistan a member of Group of Fifteen (G15)?

No, Pakistan does not hold a membership to the G15.

How many member countries are there in the Group of Fifteen (G15)?

The Group of Fifteen was initially established by 15 evolving nations. Although there are 17 member nations at present, the initial name of the group has been maintained.

Which country hosted the 15th G15 summit of nations?

The 15th G15 summit of nations was hosted by Srilanka in the city of Colombo.

. Has India been a host for any of the G15 countries summits?

India has been a host in 1994 for the 4th G15 summit held in New Delhi under P. V. Narasimha Rao.

What are the G15 countries?

The founding members of G15 are Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica and Venezuela from America; Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria and Zimbabwe from the African continent and India, Malaysia and Indonesia from Asia.

When and where was the first G15 summit held?

The first G15 summit of the countries took place in Malaysia in 1990.

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