International Call for Collaboration by South Africa - Finance, Trade, and Governance Key for Inclusive Economic Growth
The B20 South Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg from 18-20 November 2025, has set forth a series of policy recommendations aimed at addressing pressing economic challenges facing the continent. These recommendations focus on three interrelated priorities: fostering inclusive growth, combating corruption, and closing Africa’s infrastructure funding gap.
The B20 South Africa presidency, co-chaired by Mxolisi Mgojo, is emphasising the importance of Africa playing a pivotal role in shaping global economic policy. Mgojo has highlighted that collaboration is essential in today's world, not just idealistic, to move from potential to progress. He underscores that Africa's voice is critical in addressing shared challenges such as energy, food security, and digital access.
Inclusive growth is a key focus of the B20 South Africa presidency. One of the central recommendations is the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional value chains, which is essential for unlocking Africa’s $3.4 trillion market and reducing economic divides and poverty affecting over 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and digital inclusion is another priority. The B20 South Africa seeks to prioritise digital transformation and support for SMEs and informal economies to ensure no one is left behind in economic development.
Global collaboration is another significant aspect of the B20 South Africa’s approach to fostering inclusive growth. The organisation is advocating for Africa’s role as a bridge between East and West, leveraging public-private partnerships to drive investment, stability, and inclusive growth.
Addressing corruption is another crucial aspect of the B20 South Africa’s policy recommendations. The Integrity and Compliance Task Force, chaired by Ruwayda Redfearn, has highlighted the urgent need to address corruption, which diverts up to $120 billion annually from Africa’s development. The recommendations call for robust anti-corruption frameworks, transparent governance, and the protection of public resources meant for infrastructure and social services.
The B20 South Africa is also focusing on restoring confidence in multilateral systems, supporting reforms that promote transparency and accountability in international trade and finance, thereby restoring confidence in global systems that can support Africa’s growth.
Closing the infrastructure funding gap is another key priority of the B20 South Africa. There is a strong call for increased investment in resilient infrastructure, particularly leveraging Africa’s renewable energy potential (solar, wind, hydro) to support just energy transitions and sustainable development. The B20 South Africa is encouraging collaboration between governments, the private sector, and international partners to mobilise resources and expertise for infrastructure projects.
Exploring new finance mechanisms to attract investment, reduce risk, and ensure that infrastructure projects deliver long-term value for African economies is another recommendation. The B20 South Africa is also advocating for Africa to not only participate but lead in shaping global policy, demanding full collaboration with G20 task force leaders and advisory councils.
The B20 South Africa is set to officially hand over these policy recommendations to the G20 Presidency in early September 2025, ahead of the B20 South Africa Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025. The theme of the G20-B20 process in 2025 is “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” ensuring that African concerns—such as inequality, food security, debt crisis, digital inclusion, and climate resilience—are central to the global agenda.
[1] B20 South Africa (2023). B20 South Africa Policy Recommendations: Infrastructure and Investment. Retrieved from https://www.b20southafrica.org/policy-recommendations/infrastructure-and-investment/
[2] B20 South Africa (2023). B20 South Africa Policy Recommendations: Integrity and Compliance. Retrieved from https://www.b20southafrica.org/policy-recommendations/integrity-and-compliance/
[3] G20 Secretariat (2023). G20-B20 Process 2025: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.g20.org/en/g20-b20-process-2025-solidarity-equality-sustainability/
[4] World Bank (2022). Africa's Infrastructure: A $85 Billion Annual Infrastructure Gap. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure/news/africas-infrastructure-a-85-billion-annual-infrastructure-gap
[5] African Union (2022). Busi Mabuza's "New Deal for Africa": Accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Harmonizing Investment Rules, and Ensuring Climate Policies Do Not Exclude Developing Nations. Retrieved from https://au.int/en/news/busi-mabuzas-new-deal-africa-accelerating-african-continental-free-trade-area-afcfta-harmonizing
- The B20 South Africa presidency is advocating for Africa's increased role in shaping global economic policy, with a focus on fostering collaboration to address shared challenges such as energy and digital access.
- One of the central recommendations from the B20 South Africa presidency is the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional value chains to unlock Africa’s market potential and reduce economic divides.
- The B20 South Africa is also prioritizing the promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), digital transformation, and support for the informal economies to ensure inclusive growth and development.
- Closing Africa’s infrastructure funding gap is another key priority for the B20 South Africa, with a strong call for increased investment in resilient infrastructure, particularly leveraging Africa’s renewable energy potential to support sustainable development.
