The digital environment today, tangible information, accessible services and ease of use digital service plans. Above all, bringing together culture,
A Vision of “Welfare for All”
The spirit of international cooperation reached a crescendo this month in New Delhi. Guided by the philosophy of Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya “Welfare for all, happiness for all”—India hosted the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
As Prime Minister Modi noted, this theme isn’t just a slogan; it’s a strategic mandate. By leveraging multi-modal and multi-lingual AI capabilities, we can finally scale benefits—health, education, and financial services—to segments of the population that have historically been excluded from the global banquet. ( Govt of India – https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/about-summit)
Strengthening the Bridge: India and Mauritius
The highlight for Republic of Mauritius of the Summit, a pivotal meeting took place on February 20, 2026, between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam. This meeting marked a significant chapter in the “Enhanced Strategic Partnership” between the two nations where diaspora is deeply embedded in culture.
Key Highlights of the Bilateral Dialogue:
- Digital & AI Cooperation: The leaders exchanged views on using AI as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development, moving beyond traditional trade into innovation-led sectors.
- The Mauritius Model: PM Modi underscored that Mauritius serves as a “role model” for India’s development partnerships, built on mutual trust and the implementation of India’s Special Economic Package.
- Vision MAHASAGAR: Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to maritime security and prosperity under the Neighbourhood First policy, ensuring stability across the Indian Ocean Region.
Global Mandates for a Responsible Future
The New Delhi summit follows a remarkable four-year surge in multilateralism. From the G20 AI Principles to the African Declaration on AI and the recent Hamburg Declaration, the world has recognized a singular truth: AI’s impact transcends borders.
“AI is not merely a technological advancement; it is a strategic tool to enable inclusive growth.”
To harness this, we must shift our focus toward the people who will live in this AI-augmented reality longest: the youth, our professionals to leverage industry best practices.
Youth Diplomacy and AI: Empowering the Global South and SIDS
The intersection of Youth Diplomacy and AI represents the most potent opportunity for the Global South and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
For a young leader in Mauritius or a student in rural India, AI acts as a foundational assistive technology. It levels the playing field by:
- Breaking Language Barriers: Real-time translation allows youth from the Global South to participate in global governance without linguistic exclusion.
- Democratizing Expertise: AI-driven tools provide high-level technical, legal, and medical insights to regions where such specialists may be scarce.
- Climate Resilience: For SIDS, AI is a survival tool, providing predictive analytics for weather patterns and sustainable ocean management.
As we move forward from the 2026 Summit, the goal is clear: to ensure that the “intelligence” in AI is used to empower the “diplomacy” of the next generation. By centering the needs of the Global South, we ensure that the technological revolution is not just fast, but fair.
As we march on, we shall adhere to the ethical practices and prevalent conditions – evolve to resolve prevailing issues. Harness our resources to involve our youth in conductive diplomacy. AI as an assistive technology for a just, fair and equitable world.
Author
Soovan Sharma Dookhoo
Soovan Sharma Dookhoo 