A strong Business at OECD delegation led by our Chair Rick Johnston attended the B20 Summit held in Johannesburg in South Africa, re-inforcing its engagement in the B20-G20 business dialogue. Speaking on the opening panel titled "Global South and Global North Conversation: Getting Global Cooperation Right in the Next Era of Global Change", Rick Johnston underlined that business needs to be involved at all levels when adapting to change and stressed the importance of cooperation on pressing economic issues.
As a proud Network Partner to the B20, we organised an official side event on 18th November titled “OECD Impact, B20 Drive: The Business at OECD Nexus”, where we were joined by global business leaders, international organisations, and G20/B20 delegates to advance private-sector priorities, bringing together around 150 senior representatives. Our Chair Rick Johnston highlighted the value of the OECD–B20 nexus, “The OECD provides a trusted multilateral platform for coordination and benchmarking, while the B20 injects business energy and innovation. Together, we can shape a more predictable, transparent, and inclusive global economy.” Joined by Andreas Schaal, OECD’s Director for Global Relations and Sherpa for the G7 and G20, and Khulekani Mathe, Co-Chair of the B20 South Africa Presidency, the event featured four panels on Trade and Agriculture, Finance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption and Health, where Chairs and Co-Chairs from the B20 Task Forces and our global business network exchanged with the OECD on its role in advancing forward on issues raised by the B20 for the G20.
Throughout the discussions, we emphasised the need for trust, predictability, and stability in global policy frameworks. Key priorities included smarter regulation, harmonised standards, open markets, and a predictable environment that supports long-term investment and growth. We also underscored the critical role of public-private partnerships in implementing solutions and turning global commitments into concrete outcomes. We will continue to engage closely with B20 partners and the OECD to ensure that business priorities are effectively reflected in international fora.