President Ramaphosa Poised to Kick Off G20 Leaders’ Summit

The summit’s first day will feature multiple sessions, including closed meetings where delegates will address issues ranging from trade to financing and development.

Several world leaders have arrived at the Nasrec Expo Centre in the South of Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which kicks off on Saturday morning.

The summit will see a number of sessions held on day one, with some closed meetings also taking place where delegates will discuss several issues from trade to financing and development.

Before delegates break off into smaller sessions, President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to open to the summit with a public address.

The first session will focus on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, building economies, and the role of trade financing for development as well as the “debt burden” on countries. This will include an expert panel on Africa and global wealth inequality.

Sanusha Naidu, a foreign policy analyst from the institute for global dialogue, says South Africa is strategically positioned as the first African host of the G20.

“There is a level of strategic value that South Africa brings despite how we may criticise our foreign policy, despite that our foreign policy at times seems to be strategically ambiguous, but there is a strategic value proposition.” Naidu said.

Before the first day of the summit wraps up, delegates and heads of state will be taking part in various bilateral meetings as well as a G20 leaders’ reception.