BCG's Daniel Azevedo, managing director and senior partner, discusses BCG’s role as knowledge partner for the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force. BCG supported the task force in developing recommendations for G20 countries, focusing on improving global trade governance, fostering sustainable value chains, and promoting more efficient trade.
The goal of the B20's work is to improve policy making, drive strong and sustainable economic growth, and establish appropriate economic governance. Each year, membership in the B20 ranges from 500 to 1,000 of the most influential business leaders. The forum is organized by topic task forces that are determined by the host country to reflect priorities in global business and economic governance.
BCG has tapped both our people and our insights to help identify the policy changes that can most improve economic, social, and environmental outcomes on key issues such as trade, investment, infrastructure, human capital, and financing for growth.
B20 South Africa (2025)
B20 South Africa marks a pivotal moment as the first-ever B20 hosted in Africa, reinforcing the continent’s growing importance on the global stage. This milestone is especially significant following the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 in 2023, highlighting Africa’s critical role in shaping the world’s economic future.
Under the theme “Inclusive Growth and Prosperity Through Global Cooperation,” B20 South Africa emphasizes the power of collective action in addressing global economic challenges and ensuring that growth is equitable and far-reaching.
This B20 cycle will be driven by eight task forces, and BCG is proud to serve as the knowledge partner for two of them:
- Trade and Investment
- Energy Mix and Just Transition
Through these task forces, BCG will harness its global expertise and collaborate with over 400 business leaders worldwide to develop impactful, action-oriented policy recommendations that amplify the voice of business on these critical issues.”
Explore Our Latest Insights from B20 Brazil
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October 25, 2024
Shaping the Future of Global Trade and Investment
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October 25, 2024
Leadership and Innovation for a Resilient Future
Masao Ukon, managing director and senior partner at BCG, interviews Dan Ioschpe, chair of B20 Brazil. They discuss the B20’s role in advancing climate action, focusing on a fair net zero transition, and the importance of enhancing global supply chain resilience. Dan also shares advice for future B20 editions, emphasizing the need to continue building on the successes of past initiatives.
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October 25, 2024
Promoting Sustainable Trade and Global Value Chains
Santino Lacanna, a partner at BCG, discusses the crucial intersection of trade and sustainability in the B20 agenda. As a knowledge partner of the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force, BCG supported the development of recommendations to promote sustainable global value chains through initiatives such as regulatory harmonization and agreements to facilitate the flow of environmentally friendly goods and services.
B20 Trade and Investment Policy Paper
Check the complete recommendations from B20 Trade and Investment Task Force to the G20 to foster a more open, inclusive and resilient global trade and investment landscape.
Our Partnership Over the Years
Brazil (2024)
B20 Brazil's theme was "Inclusive Growth for a Sustainable Future." This B20 cycle operated through eight task forces and one action council.
Trade and Investment Task Force
BCG is the knowledge partner for the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force, which includes the participation of more than 180 business leaders from all G20 countries and from 16 different business sectors.
The Task Force provided recommendations to the G20 to foster a more open, resilient and sustainable global trading system. Recommendations covered the following three main topics:
Women in Trade Initiative
BCG is also the knowledge partner for the G20-B20 collaboration called "Women in Trade." The initiative aims to map the main challenges that impact women's and women-owned businesses' participation in international trade.
B20, in partnership with BCG, conducted a survey with the private sector across all G20 countries to identify these challenges, from which insights generated supported discussions of the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group on the topic of women in trade.
Trade and Investment Task Force
BCG is the knowledge partner for the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force, which includes the participation of more than 180 business leaders from all G20 countries and from 16 different business sectors.
The Task Force provided recommendations to the G20 to foster a more open, resilient and sustainable global trading system. Recommendations covered the following three main topics:
- Enhance trade and investment governance.
- Foster resilience and sustainability in global value chains.
- Increase trade efficiency.
Women in Trade Initiative
BCG is also the knowledge partner for the G20-B20 collaboration called "Women in Trade." The initiative aims to map the main challenges that impact women's and women-owned businesses' participation in international trade.
B20, in partnership with BCG, conducted a survey with the private sector across all G20 countries to identify these challenges, from which insights generated supported discussions of the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group on the topic of women in trade.
India (2023)
B20 India's theme was RAISE, which stands for Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable, Equitable businesses. B20 India operated through seven task forces and two action councils to streamline the B20 strategic vision and translate it into policy deliverables addressing key topics on the global economic development agenda.
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG supported the task force on digital transformation and the action council on African economic integration, leveraging our in-depth experience and expertise on these topics, which were critical for formulating practical and actionable policy recommendations for the G20 nations.
To read the policy papers that BCG contributed to, please check the following:
Insights:
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG supported the task force on digital transformation and the action council on African economic integration, leveraging our in-depth experience and expertise on these topics, which were critical for formulating practical and actionable policy recommendations for the G20 nations.
To read the policy papers that BCG contributed to, please check the following:
Insights:
- A Global Agenda for African Economic Integration
- How Digital Transformation Can Spur Economic Development
- India Is Making the Most of Its G20 Presidency
- B20 India 2023—Why Unlocking Africa's Agricultural Abundance Is Crucial
- Why India Should Guide Africa’s Integration with the Global Economy
- One World, One Cybersecurity: Global Standards for a Secure Digital Future
Indonesia (2022)
Organized under the theme of “Advancing Innovative, Inclusive and Collaborative Growth”, B20 Indonesia operates through six task forces and one action council. It seeks to gather inputs from G20 business communities to address global issues with connected, collaborative efforts targeting all aspects of the global economy.
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG is supporting three B20 task forces designed to facilitate cooperation and contribution to the formulation of policy recommendations for trade and investment, digitization, and energy, sustainability, and climate. Hans-Paul Bürkner is a co-chair of the digitization task force and a member of the B20 International Advocacy Caucus (IAC).
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG is supporting three B20 task forces designed to facilitate cooperation and contribution to the formulation of policy recommendations for trade and investment, digitization, and energy, sustainability, and climate. Hans-Paul Bürkner is a co-chair of the digitization task force and a member of the B20 International Advocacy Caucus (IAC).
- Energy, Sustainability & Climate policy paper
- Digitalization policy paper
- Trade and Investment policy paper
- G20 EMPOWER Best Practices Playbook
Italy (2021)
Organized under the theme of "reshape the future: include, share, act," B20 Italy operated through seven task forces and one action council to zoom in on key topics of the global economic agenda.
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG supported two of the B20 task forces designed to facilitate cooperation and contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations for the G20: Trade & Investment and Digital Transformation. Hans-Paul Bürkner co-chaired the Digital Transformation task force.
To read the policy papers that BCG contributed to, please see:
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG supported two of the B20 task forces designed to facilitate cooperation and contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations for the G20: Trade & Investment and Digital Transformation. Hans-Paul Bürkner co-chaired the Digital Transformation task force.
To read the policy papers that BCG contributed to, please see:
Saudi Arabia (2020)
Organized under the theme of "transforming for inclusive growth," B20 Saudi Arabia aimed to deliver an impactful and differentiated policy development process, while reinforcing and sustaining the critical role of the global business community.
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG supported three of the six B20 task forces designed to facilitate cooperation and contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations for the G20: Digitalization; Energy, Sustainability, and Climate; and Trade & Investment.
BCG helped the task forces reach consensus around digital inclusion, carbon neutrality, and open and fair trade. The collaboration produced a set of action-oriented policy recommendations that emphasized the following:
As a leading knowledge partner, BCG supported three of the six B20 task forces designed to facilitate cooperation and contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations for the G20: Digitalization; Energy, Sustainability, and Climate; and Trade & Investment.
BCG helped the task forces reach consensus around digital inclusion, carbon neutrality, and open and fair trade. The collaboration produced a set of action-oriented policy recommendations that emphasized the following:
- Promoting digital inclusion by overcoming the digital skills divide and providing more opportunities for women in digital
- Highlighting the issue of climate change and the prospects of establishing a carbon-neutral economy in line with the Paris Agreement
- Advocating for open and fair trade, which is particularly relevant today because of increasing trade conflicts and protectionist policies
Argentina (2018)
B20 Argentina included a High-Level International Business Advocacy Caucus, involving the most prominent business leaders of top companies from around the world. It addressed matters such as financing growth and infrastructure, trade and investment, along with new thriving challenges of today's world.
BCG supported the Digital and Industry 4.0 taskforce as a knowledge partner. As a result, the final policy paper calls on governments to respond to the opportunity of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 with holistic enabling policy and regulatory frameworks based around 7 key pillars (digital skills, Industry 4.0, global connectivity, MSMEs, digital trade and data flows, financial technology and cybersecurity).
Watch the video on B20 Argentina: Digital Economy & Industry 4.0
BCG supported the Digital and Industry 4.0 taskforce as a knowledge partner. As a result, the final policy paper calls on governments to respond to the opportunity of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 with holistic enabling policy and regulatory frameworks based around 7 key pillars (digital skills, Industry 4.0, global connectivity, MSMEs, digital trade and data flows, financial technology and cybersecurity).
Watch the video on B20 Argentina: Digital Economy & Industry 4.0
Germany (2017)
BCG supported three task forces and contributed to their subsequent policy recommendations:
- Creating Benefits for All: Driving Inclusive Growth through Trade and Investment
- A Climate for Change: Embracing the Transition towards Energy-Efficient, Climate and Resource-Friendly, Competitive Economies
- Digitalization for All: Future-Oriented Policies for a Globally Connected World
Policy recommendations were presented to the German G20 Presidency and BCG actively participated in high-level events, including the OECD-B20 conference and the G20 Africa partnership conference.
Read more about BCG's experience at B20 Germany
China (2016)
BCG supported two task forces: Infrastructure and Trade & Investment. Hans-Paul Bürkner co-chaired the Infrastructure task force and attended the G20 Summit.
Turkey (2015)
BCG supported two task forces: Financing Growth and Trade. Hans-Paul Bürkner co-chaired the Financing Growth task force and attended the G20 Summit.
Australia (2014)
BCG supported Investments & Infrastructure task force and seconded an associate to the Project Management Office of the B20 (the only professional services firm to do so). Hans-Paul Bürkner and Ross Love presented at the B20.
