The B20 serves as the official private-sector engagement group of the G20, providing a platform for business leaders to share their insights and influence and contribute to G20 discussions. The work of the B20 is undertaken by 8 task forces dedicated to addressing specific economic challenges, including trade & investment, energy mix & just transition, finance & infrastructure, sustainable food systems & agriculture, digital transformation, and employment & education.
During the recent B20 launch event in Cape Town, top South African executives like Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers SA, Andrew Kirby, CEO of Toyota SA, Sim Tshabalala, Group CEO of Standard Bank, and Paul Hanratty, CEO of Sanlam, set out their initial thoughts on the direction and focus of the task forces, as well as the overarching themes calling for collaboration between the different working groups. Tshabalala, chair of the working group on trade and investment, shared his optimistic view of the Africa continent and the investment needed to drive forward economic growth, while Kirby, responsible for establishing a new task force for industrial transformation and innovation, expressed excitement about the task ahead.
Mahanyele-Dabengwa, chairing the digital transformation task force, shared her passion for businesses driven with gender equal opportunities, and her vision for keeping this top of mind throughout the B20 process. Hanratty highlighted the skills gap and the need for access to education especially among youth and women. He added the important role of the informal economy for employment opportunities.
Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at Xpatweb and BUSA Nedlac representative on Immigration who were among attendees at the launch event, said the rubber will now hit the road as task force-members work towards clear, concise, and actionable recommendations that can be taken forward to the G20 government leaders.
From March to July task forces will develop policy papers, conduct virtual task force working meetings, and engage with other G20 working groups. According to the B20 South Africa website, July or August will see the official delivery of the policy papers, followed by advocacy of policy papers and culminating in G20 Summit in November.
BUSA and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) are jointly responsible for the programme of the B20 and lead a local business advisory council to assist the B20.
Busi Mavuso, CEO of BLSA, said 2025 will be a year of global business engagement to set priorities for business in conjunction with the G20. “The B20 is an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the world and build our relationships while plugging into the wider G20 agenda to project South Africa’s interests to the global stage. It ensures that South Africa is part of the conversation and that our contributions are recognised.”
An estimated 3,000 business leaders from around the world are expected to be part of the B20 task forces and work leading up to the G20 Summit.
The influential G20 accounts for more than two-thirds of the global population, over 75% of global trade, and 85% of global GDP.
Among the international heavyweights who attended the B20 launch event, are Borge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Susan Lund, Vice-President of economics at the International Finance Corporation, and Renate Hornung-Draus, International Organisation of Employers Vice President to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Saneliswe Jantjies, Social Policy Acting Director at BUSA, described the launch in Cape Town as exhilarating. “There was an atmosphere of excitement and innovation, and originality found only in Africa. The venue was filled to the brim, and it was lovely to see colleagues and business leaders from all over the world. It was comforting to hear that leaders were reinforcing the need for action towards multilateralism, a vibrant economy and an African centred B20.”
She said many global business attendees shared their sentiments on the warmth of South Africans and the sense of hospitality which was quite evident over the two days of the launch event in Cape Town. “The parallels drawn between the G20 and B20 reinforced the absence of silos and a coordinated strategy towards a united B20.”
Jacobs said one of the central messages which formed a golden thread throughout the proceedings, is that this was an Africa B20 and not just South Africa. “There was a real sense of the momentous honour for the continent as a whole.”
Mxolisi Mgojo, BUSA President and B20 South Africa Co-Chair, verbalised it well by saying Africa is always referred to as having endless potential. “With the B20 on our continent, we are looking for measurable progress.”
Jacobs said there was also strong intent to have a B20 driven towards action. All the speakers urged that conversations should have action and measurable results tracked over time, as top of mind.
The gathering brought together hundreds of delegates from 19 nations, among them representatives from the European Union, United Kingdom, USA and China as our key trading partners. The showcasing of South Africa and Africa among international delegates in the year to come, is expected to strengthen key sectors, including tourism, while also driving trade and investment.
Jacobs said from an immigration perspective, South Africa would want to harness the relationships among participating countries for the movement of talent and skills which is essential for economic growth and business success. “We hope to leverage this global stage to further the agenda for labour movement between nations to the benefit of all.”
* Sanelisiwe Jantjies. Social Policy Acting Director at BUSA, and Marisa Jacobs, BUSA Nedlac representative on Immigration, at the B20 launch event in Cape Town.
* From left is Bev Jack (BUSA), Renate Hornung-Draus (IOE Vice President to the ILO), Sanelisiwe Jantjies (BUSA), and Marisa Jacobs (Managing Director of Xpatweb), representing South Africa’s interests on the world stage during the recent B20 launch event in Cape Town.
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