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Global Governance Needs a Strong Business20

©American Council for Life Insurers

Global governance is more important than ever. Institutions like the Business20 (B20) play an indispensable role in building trust and understanding in an increasingly uncertain world. B20 Argentina is in full swing. The first taskforce meetings underlined the vibrancy and creativity of the business community of the G20 countries. B20 Germany is proud to be part of this community.

After Argentina took over the B20 Presidency on December 1, 2017, the taskforces are now not only fully constituted; most taskforces are discussing solid first and second drafts of the position papers which will form the basis for the recommendations to the G20.

B20 Argentina ensured considerable continuity by continuing most of the B20 Germany work streams. The eight taskforces follow the general theme of G20 Argentina “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development”. The work pays due respect to the three G20 focal areas “The Future of Work”, “Infrastructure for Development”, and “A Sustainable Food Future”. The taskforces are:

  • Trade and Investment (TI)

  • Digital Economy and Industry 4.0 (DEI)

  • Energy, Resource Efficiency und Sustainability (ERES)

  • Financing Growth and Infrastructure (FGI)

  • SMEs Development (SME)

  • Integrity and Compliance (IC)

  • Sustainable Food Systems (FSF)

  • Employment and Education (EE)

B20 Membership: Representative and Divers

B20 Argentina has 1190 members, a substantial increase from Germany’s 700+ members. Argentina accounts for approximately 31 percent of the membership; with 5.5 percent of members, Germany ranks fourth after the United States (9.9) and China (7.2). The other top ten G20 countries regarding number of members are: France (4.9 %), United Kingdom (4.7 %), Italy (3.7 %), Spain (3.1 %), Russia (2 %), und Australia (1.8 %). 34 percent of members are small and medium-sized companies. Female participation stands at almost 30 percent.

A multitude of companies and business associations which were active during the German B20 cycle are now contributing to B20 Argentina, among them several German companies and institutions. The Siemens AG, which chaired the TF Digitalization and Cross-thematic Group Responsible Business Conduct and Anti-Corruption during the German cycle, now holds co-chairs in the TF Digital Economy as well as the TF Integrity and Compliance. The Volkswagen Group also holds a co-chair in the TF Digital Economy. BASF, which chaired the B20 Germany TF Energy, Climate, and Resource Efficiency, is now one of the co-chairs of the TF Energy, Resource Efficiency und Sustainability. The Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) is represented with a co-chair in the TF Employment and Education. Many of B20 Germany’s co-chairs are now playing an active role as members of the various taskforces. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), both members of the German B20 Executive Committee, are members in various taskforces, including Trade and Investment, Digital Economy, and SME.

B20 Germany is part of the B20 Argentina Troika. The Troika is an important advisory body, representing the previous, the current, and the coming B20 presidencies. B20 Germany Sherpa Stormy-Annika Mildner has been granted advisory status to B20 Argentina. Her major interest is to advocate for continuity in the B20 process and advance the results achieved during previous B20 cycles. B20 Germany is looking forward to deepening the discussions with B20 Argentina and B20 Japan.

Position Finding: Continuous and Intensive Exchange

The position finding process follows well-established traditions of the B20. Each taskforce is discussing five policy recommendations with concrete policy actions. After the deliberations on an inception paper, the taskforces are currently discussion the second draft of the policy papers. This process is to be finished by late August to leave enough time to sum up the recommendations in the B20 Summary Document, which is to be handed over to the Argentinian government, representative of the G20. After each taskforce exchange (many of them offer the opportunity to either participating in person or via a conference call), members have the opportunity to send written feedback.

B20 Argentina is assisted by several knowledge partners:

  • Accenture (EE, TI)

  • BCG (DEI)

  • Bain & Company (SFS)

  • Deloitte (EE, SFS)

  • EY (SME, IC)

  • McKinsey &Company (FGI)

Several Network Partners contribute to the work of B20 Argentina:

  • Business at OECD (TI, DEI)

  • Endeavour (SMEs)

  • Global Business Coalition (TI, ERES, DEI)

  • IFAC (IC)

  • IIF (FGI)

  • ICC (FSF, TI, SME)

  • IOE (EE)

  • WEF (IC)

In addition, some taskforces are assisted by Concept Partners:

  •  CEADS (ERES)

  • CREA (SFS)

  • ISCB (SME)

  • Observatorio PyME (SME)

  • Tecnalia (DEI)

  • Transparency International (IC)

Interaction with the G20

B20 Argentina has an excellent working relationship with the G20 Chair, the Argentinian government.  This was underlined at several B20 meetings and events during the IMF Spring Meeting in Washington D.C. end of April 2018. B20 members had the chance to exchange views with G20 Argentina Sherpa Pedro Villagra Delgado, Argentine Minister of Treasury Nicolás Dujovne, and Frederico Sturzenegger, Argentine Central Bank Governor, as well as many others.

The G20 Sherpa are scheduled to meet next May 2-4, 2018 and September 8-9, 2018. At both meetings, B20 Argentina will have the opportunity to present its recommendations. As in previous years, B20 is again invited to several of the G20 Working Group meetings.

The B20 Summit will take place October 4-5 in Buenos Aires. The G20 Summit is scheduled from November 30 to December 1, 2018. Until then, a lot of work remains to be done for the B20. B20 Argentina needs to speak with one strong voice of the business community on issues, where the G20 – despite the motto of G20 Argentina – are still struggling to find consensus. This includes foremost joint efforts to curtail climate change and measures to ensure open and rules-based global markets.  

 

 

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