The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising the world’s leading economies to discuss international economic and financial stability.

The G20 comprises of 19 sovereign countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States), the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).

G20 members represent around 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

Ireland has been invited to participating in the G20 this year during South Africa’s presidency. The invitation for Ireland to participate as a guest country reflects Ireland’s strong relationship with South Africa, our status as a dynamic and open trading economy, and our proud track record of championing sustainable development.

As a small, highly open trading economy with a strong global outlook, Ireland is committed to the value of an open and fair-trading system, underpinned by the rules-based system. Free and fair trade brings economic opportunities, creates well-paid jobs, fosters innovation and builds economic resilience – essential for small states like Ireland to thrive and prosper.

We will seek to amplify the perspective of smaller and highly networked economies in discussions on global financial architecture and sustainable development.

Ireland and South Africa have a long-standing partnership on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and share a commitment to reaching the ‘furthest behind first’ in the attainment of the SDGs. Ireland will prioritise areas such as global food security, harnessing innovation for inclusive growth, and climate financing, all underpinned by our support for inclusive decision making.

Ireland is taking a whole of Government approach to our engagement with the G20 and will be an active participant across all working groups and task forces.

The following Government departments will be involved in Ireland’s work at the G20:

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Department of Finance
• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
• Department of Health
• Department of Justice
• Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media
• Department of Education
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The first Ministerial meetings are commencing in February. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris TD will attend the first Foreign Ministers’ meeting (February 20/21) in Johannesburg. There are two further Foreign Ministers’ meetings planned for later in the year, one of which will take place during UN High Level Week in New York.

The following week, on 24/25 February, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. will attend the Finance Ministers’ meeting in Cape Town.

Further Ministerial engagement is envisaged through the year when other Irish Government Ministers will attend their respective Ministerial sessions, concluding with Heads of Government Summit in November which the Taoiseach will attend.