B20 South Africa officially kicked off in Cape Town, with a prestigious gala dinner, followed by the conference rich in insights. The conference was held under the leadership of Business Unity South Africa that included the key note addresses from the President and CEO of the World Economic Forum – Borge Brende, Vice President of Economics at the International Finance Corporation – Susan Lund and the Founder of the Econet Group – Strive Masiyiwa.
Cape Town became a central hub for discussions on economic cooperation as it hosted the B20 Launch Event. The gathering brought together hundreds of delegates and strengthened the key sectors, including tourism, while driving trade and investment.
The B20 gathering welcomed the business leaders from across G20 nations to address pressing global economic and trade challenges. The platform played an instrumental role in shaping global economic policies and promoted international associations.
Cape Town and the Western Cape provided the perfect backdrop for such a high-profile event. The combination of the natural beauty of the region, its rich culture, world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art conference venues and business-friendly environment by making it an ideal location for global forums of the magnitude.
Being the representatives of 19 nations and 2 regional organisations including the key trading partners of Western Cape from the EU, UK, USA, China and the AU. The event presented a unique opportunity to position the destination for tourism, trade and investment.
Notably, this influential group together accounts for more than two-thirds of the global population for more than 75% of global trade and 85% of global GDP.
CEO of Wesgro – Wrenelle Stander commented on the broader benefits of hosting the B20 Launch Event said that Wesgro is proudly a South African and is on a mission to drive inclusive and sustainable growth, strengthening the competitiveness and creating jobs.
She said that they are mainly focused on unlocking access to new markets and new buyers considering China, ASEAN member countries, India, Brazil and the Middle East. It is also maintaining a continued focus on established markets, including the EU, USA, UK and the rest of Africa.
B20 with its global representation provides an important platform to achieve these objectives. For Cape Town and the Western Cape, B20 offers a great opportunity to highlight the world-class infrastructure, seamless connectivity to key markets and effective governance that makes doing businesses an effortless experience. The region is also a home to globally renowned universities, that are driving innovation and positioning them as a hub for knowledge and talent, added Stander.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth and Tourism – Alderman James Vos said that the Cape Town is playing a vital role in hosting B20 event that strengthens the position as a premier global conference and events hub.
He said that the diverse offerings of the city and its high standards make it a compelling destination for organisations across various industries, providing delegates with an exceptional experience during their stay.
The B20 Launch Event marks the beginning of a year-long series of engagements culminating in the B20 Summit in November 2025. The developed task forces throughout the presidency aims to address critical trade and investment challenges, ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable global economy.