B20 South Africa: momentum is building

Cas Coovadia

Since B20 Brazil handed the baton to B20 South Africa, the past few months have been dynamic and productive. We deeply appreciate the seamless handover process and the collaborative efforts of the B20 Brazil Sherpa, Ms. Constanza Negri and her team. Like our counterparts in Brazil, we remain focused on our mission: to develop actionable, business-driven policy recommendations for the G20.

Strong progress on our mandate

In April, we finalised the appointment of eight Task Forces where a diverse and skilled coalition of global business leaders, including CEOs of multinational corporations, entrepreneurs, academics, and business association representatives will collaborate to advance inclusive growth. Their collective expertise and commitment will steer policy proposals that reflect both global imperatives and the African continent’s unique priorities.

We are on track to deliver robust, businessled policy proposals to the G20. The depth of engagement, expertise and collaboration we have already seen is inspiring. This is where meaningful change begins.

The B20 South Africa Task Forces are co-led by a group of business leaders across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. Their diverse perspectives reflect the B20’s commitment to regional inclusivity, sectoral relevance and gender balance. Notably, for the first time in the B20’s history, 50% of Task Force Chairs are women, a milestone that underscores South Africa’s leadership in promoting inclusive and representative global dialogue. Additionally, our Local Business Advisory Council (LBAC) and International Business Advisory Caucus (IBAC) are injecting diverse perspectives into our work.

Path to the B20 Summit: Delivering policy recommendations by September The Task Forces will now accelerate their work to finalise policy recommendations for submission to the G20 by September 2025.

Key stages include:

1. Expert Consultations: Engaging with industry leaders, academia and government stakeholders.

2. Draft Review: Refining proposals based on multilateral feedback.

3. Stakeholder Dialogues: Sharing insights through regional dialogues and partnerships.

A groundswell of support

We are engaged with government representatives and G20 South Africa working groups, ensuring our strategies resonate at the highest levels. Through discussions and stakeholder sessions, both locally and internationally, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the private sector’s critical role in advising global policy-making. ■

The B20 South Africa mission is clear: Inclusive Growth and Prosperity through Global Cooperation. This is more than a theme. It is the benchmark of our collective impact. Join us in Johannesburg, South Africa from 18-20 November 2025

We are on track to deliver robust, business-led policy proposals to the G20. The depth of engagement, expertise and collaboration we have already seen is inspiring. This is where meaningful change begins.