South African President Jacob Zuma is also in Hamburg for the G20 summit. Zuma wrapped up the ANC’s policy conference in Johannesburg Wednesday. He is now preparing to represent Africa at the G20 gathering. But the meeting is taking place amidst a myriad of global issues that may overshadow discussions concerning the continent this time around.
Since 2008, the G20 has focused on strengthening the global economy, fair trade and inclusive growth especially for developing countries. Leaders agreed at their last meeting to finalise the Compact with Africa.
“The compact is designed to allow each African country to reach an agreement or compact with all of its various bilateral and multilateral stakeholders, to come up with a strategy of creating a more congenial environment for the private sector,” Daniel Bradlow, Professor for International Development Law and African Economic Relations, told CGTN Africa.
Germany proposed the strategy for Africa to boost economies through investment. Five countries on the continent have signed up to the Compact. South Africa hasn’t done so as of yet.
“We’re also very mindful of the fact that many of the financial discussions in the G20 as well as issues of the digital economy for example tax co-operation, etc. have a direct impact on African economies as well and are very much part of the development or should feature as part of the development trajectory of African countries,” said Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, CEO of the South African Institute of International Affairs.
It’s not clear whether President Jacob Zuma will accept the contract. He is expected to push discussion on protectionism. US President Donald Trump’s radical economic policies is of concern especially around trade with Africa. Migration and America pulling out of the climate change agreement is also likely to top the agenda.
“There’ll be discussion of the migration issue because obviously that’s of importance to Europe but many of the African countries would also like to be able to have a strategy for limiting the amount of migration of their citizens to Europe. The African Union has been highlighting climate change as an important issue because the impact of climate on Africa is going to be very negative as we’ve seen in Southern Africa in the last few years,” Bradlow added.
Many analysts fear however that issues relating to Africa will be overshadowed by North Korea’s Nuclear testing programme as well as tensions between the U.S. and its trade partners, China and Russia. The Middle East fallout with Qatar is also of concern as this stage.
