Johannesburg: South Africa’s assumption of the G20 presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 marks a historic milestone. The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum of both developing and developed countries which seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the G20 comprises 19 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Trkiye, United Kingdom, and United States, along with two regional bodies, the European Union and the African Union. These members include the world’s major economies, representing 85% of global Gross Domestic Product, over 75 percent of international trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat or staff. Instead, the Presidency rotates annually among the members, with the Presidency responsible for bringing together the G20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. To ensure continuity, the Presidency is supported by a ‘troika’ composed of the current, immediate past, and next host countries.
South Africa’s leadership in the G20 marks the first time an African country hosts this prestigious gathering, highlighting the continent’s perspectives on the global stage. South Africa intends to use its G20 Presidency to promote and garner support for developing nations in Africa and the Global South, building upon the achievements of previous Presidencies held by Indonesia, India, and Brazil in advancing the development agenda.