SA aims to use 2025 G20 Summit to showcase the country

President Cyril Ramaphosa will again be hosting the leaders of powerful countries next year. South Africa will see leaders of the G20 descending on this country.

The G20 is an important group of 20 of the world’s largest economies that meets regularly to coordinate global policy.

The G20 was launched in 1999 and included 19 countries, with the African Union added as a full member in 2023.

A discussion on the importance of AU’s membership to the G20: 

Initially, it was a gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors, aimed at discussing international economic and financial issues. This group accounts for almost two-thirds of the global population, 75% of global trade and 85 % of the world’s GDP.

The first summit of the G20 was held in Washington in 2008.

South Africa has been a member of this group since its inception in 1999 when Asia was facing a financial crisis. The meeting in South Africa next year comes at a time when there has been criticism that global political tensions often derail G20 meetings.

This is something South Africa will have to avoid when hosting the meeting.

“South Africa will host the annual G20 Summit in 2025. Some people say that this G20 Summit where many heads of state will descend on our country could be at the same level to the 2010 FIFA football contest that took place here or even bigger, therefore, we need to embark on a national project of ensuring that the G20 does become successful,” says President Ramaphosa.

President further says Pretoria will use the summit to showcase the country and push for South Africa’s interests.

“ The lekgotla has recognised the significance of South Africa’s presidency of the G20 and the opportunities that this presidency of the G20 provides to us, the needs and the interest of the African continent and the global south.”

This will be the second important meeting chaired by President Ramaphosa after the successful hosting of the BRICS summit last year.

-Reporting by Bonolo Maribe