B20 South Africa 2025

Final Papers

SPECIAL EDITION B20 SHERPA UPDATE

Last week marked a historic milestone – not only for South Africa, but for the entire African continent and the global business community. With immense pride and gratitude, I share that we have formally handed over 30 policy recommendations from the B20 South Africa to the G20 Presidency, ahead of the November Summit.

Sherpa Foreword

Digital Transformation

The Final Paper identifies the digital divide as a critical barrier to growth, with billions still offline and lacking digital skills. Recommendations include expanding inclusive infrastructure, embedding digital and AI education, strengthening ethical governance of emerging technologies, and advancing interoperable digital public infrastructure. These measures aim to ensure that digital transformation drives equity and trust.

Employment and Education

The Final Paper highlights the urgency of tackling global unemployment, skills mismatches, and gender inequality that limit inclusive growth. Recommendations focus on affordable early childhood education, youth employment pathways, and removing barriers to female participation. They also emphasise re-skilling, upskilling, and adapting to digital platform work to prepare a workforce that can thrive in rapidly changing labour markets.

Energy Mix and Just Transition

Recommendations from the Task Force underscore the need for a fair and inclusive global energy transition. Priorities include scaling transition finance, localising clean energy manufacturing, building skills for future energy jobs, and investing in resilient grids and infrastructure. The Final Paper envisions a transition that creates value across energy value chains.

Finance and Infrastructure

The Final Paper addresses the widening infrastructure gap, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) where capital access and project investability remain limited. Recommendations call for stronger early-stage project preparation, more blended finance and partnerships, and greater use of data for transparency. The Task Force also highlights the importance of improving cross-border financial flows to ensure that infrastructure investment supports sustainable, inclusive development.

Industrial Transformation and Innovation

With slowing growth, shifting supply chains, and rising debt pressures, the Task Force recommendations focus on re-energising manufacturing as a driver of resilience. The Final Paper emphasises industrial strategies co-created with business, expanded SME competitiveness, and deeper regional trade integration. It also highlights the adoption of green and digital technologies, supported by finance, infrastructure, and institutional coordination.

Integrity and Compliance

The recommendations highlight the risks corruption poses to inclusive growth, especially amid new challenges such as AI-enabled fraud and opaque climate finance. The Final Paper focuses on harnessing technology for anti-corruption, strengthening transparency in sustainability finance through global standards, and expanding collective action initiatives. Together, these efforts aim to embed integrity and trust into global markets.

Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture

The recommendations reflect the vulnerabilities in global food systems exposed by climate shocks, conflict, and fragile supply chains. The Final Paper calls for resilient agrifood supply chains, expanded access to technologies and finance for farmers, and inclusive livelihoods for women and youth. It also stresses integrating trade into food security strategies and accelerating sustainable practices to achieve climate-resilient, productive agriculture.

Trade and Investment

The Final Paper highlights restoring stability in multilateral trade, advancing Africa’s competitiveness through AfCFTA integration, and embedding climate responsiveness in trade rules. Together, these measures aim to create a more balanced, inclusive global trading system.