Officials and experts in South Africa, host of the 2025 G20 summit, have expressed expectations that the event will promote sustainable development and poverty reduction among Global South countries.
The country will assume the G20 Presidency on Dec 1 and host the summit in 2025, succeeding Brazil, host of the ongoing 2024 summit.
As the only African nation in the G20, South Africa's presidency is expected to present an opportunity to focus on African priorities, such as economic development, climate change, health conditions and digital transformation, according to the officials.
These pressing concerns are reflected in the official theme for next year's summit, according to Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"The theme that South Africa has adopted is 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability'. And that theme talks to both the dynamics in the Global South, but also the aspirations with respect to how to achieve equitable and sustainable development of economies that for the longest time have been held back from developing for a number of reasons," said Magwenya.
South African policy experts stressed that next year's meetings will build on the success of negotiations in Rio de Janeiro, where the leaders' summit is underway through Nov 19.
"If you just pivot to the success of Brazil alone -- the partnership to end food poverty and so on and so forth -- all of these issues are imminent in the aspirations of the peoples of the Global South. Brazil has done a fantastic job to elevate these issues in discussion," said Mikatekiso Kubayi, a senior researcher at the Institute for Global Dialogue, a non-governmental organization in Pretoria, South Africa.
The G20 summit being held for the first time on African soil presents a historical opportunity for the continent, as South Africa has always championed Africa's issues on a global stage, according to the presidential spokesperson.
"The issue of the reform of the international financial institutions. Allied to that is the issue of debt, how that debt process is managed for the benefit of the Global South, particularly African countries," Magwenya said.
At least 120 meetings are planned in South Africa in the coming year, and along with it comes a boost for the country's economic sector.
"The meeting of the heads of state will take place on the 27th of November 2025. And it's an opportunity, once in a lifetime opportunity for South Africa, not only to showcase South Africa but the rest of the continent," said Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of South Africa.
S African officials expect 2025 G20 summit to promote sustainable development, poverty reduction
