The G20 and the World

The G20 committed in its 5th Anniversary Vision Statement to listen carefully to institutions and countries which are not in the group. This is because the G20’s growth and resilience agenda matters to all countries, not just those in the G20. Growth in G20 countries, which constitute 85 per cent of the global economy, is essential to growth and development elsewhere.

In 2015, the G20 is focusing on Low Income and Developing Countries (LIDCs) with a view to highlighting the relevance of G20’s development agenda for these countries. 2015 offers a unique opportunity to enhance global development agenda. G20 has a strong role to play in that.

G20 guest countries

Each year the G20 president invites guest countries to attend the Leaders’ Summit to participate in member discussions about the agenda.

Inviting guest countries gives non-members an opportunity to bring their views to the G20 table. The selection of guests reflects the G20’s commitment to ensuring all regions of the world are represented, and in consulting with countries beyond the G20 membership so as to understand fully their economic challenges, how they experience changes in the global economy and how G20 decisions affect them.

Each year, the G20’s guests include Spain (a permanent invitee); the Chair of ASEAN; Global Governance Group; two African countries (the chair of the African Union and a representative of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)) and a country or countries invited by the presidency, usually from its own region. Since the first leader-level meeting of the G20 in 2008, guests have included Benin, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Malawi, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Mauritania, Senegal, Myanmar and New Zealand.

In 2015 Turkey decided to invite Azerbaijan together with Malaysia, as the 2015 Chair of ASEAN; Senegal, representing NEPAD; Singapore, Spain and Zimbabwe, as the 2015 chair of the African Union.

Outreach

Turkey is engaging with non-members to develop international understanding of the G20 and to seek views and input the 2015 agenda and is working closely with Low Income Developing Countries (LIDCs).

Turkish Sherpa, Turkish Ambassadors, Ministers and Senior Officials are also leading G20-related outreach and advocacy events around the world to further the discussion on the G20 and its agenda and promote international economic governance. We are also using our links with the UN and other organisations such as the Commonwealth and La Francophonie to ensure inclusive dialogue with the developing world.