IN OTHER NEWS BY RAINE ST.CLAIRE
G20 is now G21 - AU admitted The path to international collaboration
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n a notable decision this year, the G20 welcomed the African Union as a full member of the G20+, endowing it with the same status as the European Union. This recognition underscores the pivotal role of Africa in international policymaking, emphasising the value placed on regional trade and economic integration to mitigate volatility and risks. This expansion from G20 to G21 signifies a positive signal for private sector entities seeking to tap into Africa’s economic potential. Emerging from its origins in financial crises, the G20 once again proved its significance as the foremost platform for exchanging insights into the most pressing global economic challenges facing the world’s major economies.
Several shared areas were identified where countries can transcend geopolitical differences and policy disparities to seek bettercoordinated responses to global market fragmentation. SIGNIFICANCE OF DISASTER RESILIENCE As the world has painfully learned, disasters, whether natural or manmade, are not isolated events. They carry far-reaching consequences, inflicting catastrophic human costs and undermining nations’ development efforts. The recent devastating earthquake in Morocco, which is set to host the World Bank Annual Meetings in October 2023, struck on September 8 while G20 leaders were concluding their discussions for the day. This event
26 | Public Sector Leaders | October 2023
underscores the urgent need for G20 coordination in reducing the impact of disasters, both natural and man-made. The business community has been calling for top-level coordination in disaster relief and response. India has taken steps to enhance global disaster resilience through various G20 working groups. As a result of these deliberations, the G20 has established a standing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group to develop and implement policies for reducing risk, building resilience, and facilitating disaster risk reduction globally. This move reflects the G20 leaders’ commitment to practical action, leaving it to Brazil and South Africa, the next two G20 chairs, to carry forward India’s momentum.
