B20 sherpa Cas Coovadia says the organisers of the business version of the G20 enjoy a good relationship with their US counterparts and look forward to a smooth transition — despite the diplomatic discord.
Launched in Cape Town in February, the B20 will hold its summit in Johannesburg in November, alongside the G20 heads of state summit.
It’s at these gatherings that the chairmanship of both the G20 and its business arm will be handed to the US. But Washington and Pretoria are embroiled in a diplomatic spat that has resulted in the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool.
Coovadia told Business Times that despite the diplomatic friction, South Africa enjoyed great support in its B20 activities from US businesses that attended the launch in Cape Town.
“We hand over to the US at the end of the year. Our counterparts are the American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, and we have a good relationship with them. They were at our launch — as were some American businesses — and they have assured us that the business community is fully behind South Africa’s B20, despite the politics.”
He said the biggest challenge when organising B20 activities was managing large task forces, while giving them autonomy to pursue recommendations to achieve inclusive growth and development. However, they were determined to ensure the task forces emerged from their work with actionable recommendations that were not “wishy-washy” and would work for participating countries.
“There is a lot of noise globally at the moment. We don’t want to get into politics. We want to keep to our task. Those countries that want to participate will participate and the ones who do not wish to participate, there is nothing we can do. But we have received sufficient support.”
There is a lot of noise globally at the moment. We don’t want to get into politics. We want to keep to our task. Those countries that want to participate will participate and the ones who do not wish to participate, there is nothing we can do. But we have received sufficient support.
— Cas Coovadia, B20 sherpa
In November, US secretary of state Marco Rubio refused to attend the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg. There’s serious doubt President Donald Trump will make the heads of state gathering in November.
Coovadia said he was encouraged by the increased understanding in South African society of the B20 and its importance since the launch. “I think there is a better and broader understanding of the B20 since the launch. Through a number of interviews, we have been able to explain how the process works and what it is about.”
Speaking at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, finance minister Enoch Godongwana urged South Africans to not concern themselves with moments of contention among member states.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say we are enjoying the presidency of the G20 ... I want to assure you that the track that I lead, which is the finance track, [was] successful ... and all countries were happy with how we have been able to manage these things,” Godongwana said.
“Attention has been drawn to the fact that we didn’t issue what is called a communique. It’s not the first time [one] has not been issued ... I suspect South Africa, moving forward, we are going to have a communique.”
Speaking at the B20 launch in February, co-chair of the B20 and Standard Bank board chair Nonkululeko Nyembezi said the G20 was coming to South Africa at a time when the African continent was in a “position of strength”.
She said Africa was well placed to provide the world with solutions in areas such as low-cost banking solutions, clean energy, land use, sustainable farming and small-scale industrialisation.
Addressing parliament this week on South Africa’s G20 activities, department of trade, industry & competition acting director-general Malebo Mabitje-Thompson said South Africa assumed the G20 presidency at a time of geopolitical tensions, climate-related challenges, fragmenting supply chains and economic disparities. “Many regions and localities, especially Africa, are increasingly vulnerable to the adverse distributive effects of globalisation and trade.”
She added that rising inequalities and unemployment had increased feelings of exclusion and discontent, making it harder to build consensus about policies that promoted global integration.
Mabitje-Thompson said South Africa’s G20 presidency had put forward four issues for discussion in the trade and investment working group. These included trade and inclusive growth; a responsive trade and investment agenda; green industrialisation; and reform of the World Trade Organisation.
“The B20 secretariat has been developing the framework for hosting the B20 in 2025, which includes planning and implementing the B20 task forces, the summit, and meetings ... seeking to promote South Africa as an attractive investment destination and showcasing the country’s business potential and opportunities.”
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