Somerset West: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host South Africa’s second G20 Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) meeting from 6-8 May 2025 in Somerset West, Western Cape. The meeting will bring together senior officials from member countries, as well as the European Union and African Union.
According to South African Government News Agency, the G20 TIWG meeting is the second in a series of meetings scheduled throughout the year, preceding the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in October 2025. The discussions will concentrate on four priorities: trade and inclusive growth, a responsive trade and investment agenda, the G20 Framework on Green Industrialisation and Investments, and World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform.
South Africa officially assumed the Presidency of the G20 in December 2024 for the year 2025 under the theme: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability. The Deputy Director-General of Trade at the dtic, Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter, stated that the first meeting held in March was successful, with constructive engagement from members on all issues, welcoming the agenda proposed by the Presidency.
Ambassador Mlumbi-Peter emphasized, “South Africa is holding the G20 Presidency at an interesting time when we are witnessing seismic shifts in global trade. The second meeting presents an opportunity for members to engage further on these issues with a view to preparing recommendations for the Trade and Investment Ministers meeting scheduled for 10 October 2025. The four themes that South Africa has put forward in the context of the TIWG are therefore timely and emphasise the need for greater G20 coordination cooperation in the current context.”
Additionally, Mlumbi-Peter noted that the TIWG’s efforts also aim to identify potential areas of cooperation on trade and investment, considering the priorities of the G20 Presidency, and to discuss trade and investment issues of common interest raised by G20 members. The G20 provides a crucial platform for dialogue and action aimed at mitigating environmental, social, and economic risks while strengthening global economic resilience.
The G20 members include the world’s major economies, representing 85% of global Gross Domestic Product, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population. It comprises 19 developed and developing countries, as well as continental bodies such as the European Union and the African Union. The G20 plays a significant role in shaping and strengthening the global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues, aiming to foster cooperation to address global challenges.