Q4/2019 -Japanese G20 Presidency

G20 Foreign Ministers‘ Meeting, Nagoya, 22 + 23 November 2019

Japanese G20 Presidency came to an end with the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nagoya on 22 and 23 November 2019. No final statement was delivered at this meeting. Nevertheless, digital trade was an issue at the informal exchange, which discussed the WTO reform initiative triggered by the G20 Summit in Osaka and the role of digitalisation in achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030[1].

Saudi Arabia Takes Over G20 Presidency, 1 December 2019

On 1 December 2019 Saudi Arabia has taken over the G20 Presidency under the theme “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”. The three key agenda items of the Presidency are:

  • Shaping New Frontiers,
  • Safeguarding the Planet and
  • Empowering People.

Digitalisation particularly plays a central role under the item “Shaping New Frontiers”. This focal item includes three concrete issues to this respect: digital tax, digital economy and infrastructure[2]. Like the preceding G20 presidencies, Saudi Arabia will hold a series of ministerial meetings and expert conferences to prepare the G20 Summit, which is scheduled for 21 and 22 November 20020 in Riyadh.

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Q4/2019G20
  1. [1] G20 Aichi-Nagoya Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, November 22-23, 2019, in:
  2. [2] Saudi Arabia Assumes 2020 G20 Presidency: Shaping New Frontiers, Riyadh, December 2019: „A. Finding a Global Solution to Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalization of the Economy: Our national economies are more interconnected and interdependent. Digitalization has driven considerable changes in the way business operates and has led to the emergence of new business models. These changes have put a spotlight on the need to reform the international tax system. Following the Leaders’ commitment in Buenos Aires in 2018, the G20 priority will be to work collaboratively to ensure that we reach a global and consensus-based solution in 2020 to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy. B. Enabling the Digital Economy: Advances in digital technology are transforming the global economy and considerably impacting people, markets, and governments. While these developments assist in advancing productivity and innovation, they raise questions for labour markets, business models and institutions. The G20 will continue to address these challenges throughout the presidency year including the implications for future skills needs, enabling all business to take advantage of the digital economy and defining the framework for a trustworthy human-centered economy. As G20 members, our duty is to adopt a framework conducive to getting the most out of the current wave of innovation. We should act collectively to tackle the challenges emerging from the profound transformations and adopt long-term bold strategies to utilize and share the benefits of innovation. C. Utilizing Technology in Infrastructure: Rapidly changing new technologies have transformed many industries. However, the infrastructure sector has not yet embraced the full potential embodied in these technologies to improve quality, reduce costs, and help close the infrastructure financing gap. Innovation in infrastructure represents a game changer to promote sustainable and inclusive growth.” In: http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/2020/2020-Shaping_New_Frontiers.pdf