The G 77 now has 134 member states from the economically developing world and is a coalition designed to promote collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity. An offshoot of the Non-Aligned Movement, it began in 1964 with 77 countries, including Sri Lanka.

The summit’s theme is ‘The North-South Digital Divide, which describes global disparities between the economically developed countries and the G-77 member states. Cuba, the current chairman of the G77, will hand over the chairmanship to Uganda after the summit.

Meanwhile, this year’s UNGA session theme is ‘Financing for Development’ and it is aimed at assisting developing countries to emerge from the post-Covid economic crisis and finance the challenges of climate change.