Business 20

Business 20
Name	Business 20
Formation	2010
Type	Advisory group
Headquarters	Variable (rotating host)
Region served	Global
Membership	Business associations and corporate leaders

Business 20

Business 20 is an international engagement group that convenes corporate leaders, chambers of commerce, and industry associations to advise the G20 on private sector perspectives. It brings together representatives from organizations such as the Confederation of British Industry, Business Roundtable, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, European Commission-linked business networks and national chambers to contribute proposals on trade, investment, infrastructure, and finance. The group typically issues communiqués and policy recommendations that intersect with agendas set by heads of state at G20 Summit meetings in cities like Toronto, Seoul, Hamburg, and Buenos Aires.

Overview

Business 20 functions as one of the G20 engagement groups, alongside forums such as Civil20, Labour20, Think20, Youth20, and Science20. Participants include representatives from bodies like the International Chamber of Commerce, World Economic Forum-affiliated firms, regional outfits such as the Asian Development Bank constituency, and national organizations such as the Japan Business Federation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The secretariat and private-sector task forces often coordinate with G20 sherpas, finance ministers, and officials from institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on issues like cross-border investment, digitalization, and sustainable infrastructure.

History and Development

The initiative emerged in the early 2010s as G20 leaders sought structured engagement with global business stakeholders during meetings following the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008). Early iterations involved collaborations with business coalitions including BusinessEurope, Confederation of Indian Industry, and the Brazilian Confederation of Industries during presidencies such as Russian Presidency of the G20, Turkish Presidency of the G20, and Chinese Presidency of the G20. Over successive presidencies—Australian Presidency of the G20, German Presidency of the G20, Argentinian Presidency of the G20—the group refined procedure for producing policy briefs, stakeholder consultations, and outcome statements that addressed priorities like financing for development championed by the United Nations and sectoral concerns raised by multinational enterprises like Apple Inc., Toyota, Siemens, and BP.

Organization and Membership

Membership typically comprises CEOs, trade association chairs, and leaders from organizations such as the International Organization of Employers, AmCham International, Korea International Trade Association, Brazilian Service Federation (CNI), and national business federations including the Australian Industry Group, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Mexican Business Council (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial), German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK), and Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales. Rotating host governments appoint steering committees and working groups that coordinate with advisory councils from institutions such as Bloomberg, McKinsey & Company, Ernst & Young, and Deloitte. The structure often includes sectoral task forces on finance, digital economy, climate finance, and small and medium-sized enterprises with participation from firms like Mastercard, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Priorities and Policy Initiatives

Business 20 policy agendas have focused on trade facilitation endorsed by World Trade Organization principles, investment frameworks advocated alongside United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, infrastructure financing tied to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and New Development Bank projects, and digitalization consistent with standards promoted by the International Telecommunication Union. Initiatives have included recommendations on taxation intersecting with guidance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, workforce reskilling linked to programs by UNESCO, and climate risk disclosures aligned with standards from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and investor coalitions including Climate Action 100+.

Meetings and Engagements

B20 consultations are held in the lead-up to each G20 leaders' summit, with plenaries, sectoral roundtables, and bilateral briefings hosted in cities tied to the G20 presidency such as Pittsburgh, Brisbane, Osaka, Rome, and Riyadh. Delegations meet with sherpas, finance ministers, and officials from agencies like the European Central Bank, Bank of England, People's Bank of China, and Ministry of Finance (India) to present communiqués. Engagements have included joint events with International Labour Organization and policy sessions featuring executives from Unilever, Shell, Huawei, Samsung, and Berkshire Hathaway.

Criticism and Controversies

The group has faced scrutiny from civil society organizations such as Oxfam, Greenpeace, Transparency International, and Amnesty International for perceived regulatory capture and insufficient transparency in influence on leaders including those at G20 Summit (2010) and later summits. Critics have targeted participation by firms like ExxonMobil and Glencore and questioned revolving-door dynamics involving former officials from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group. Debates have arisen over representation of small and medium-sized enterprises versus multinational corporations, and over policy positions on tax avoidance, fossil fuel subsidies, and labor standards promoted by bodies such as International Trade Union Confederation.

Category:International business organizations