Task Force 1 on Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment and Reduced Inequality convened the second meeting on 14-15 May 2025v, virtually. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Dave Malcomson, Coordinator of Task Force One. He was supported by Moderators of the respective sections, acting Director-General Ms Jacky Molisane, Department of Employment and Labour, Ms Malebo Mabitjie-Thompson, Deputy-Director General of Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and Mr Jacob Mbele, Director-General of Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum.
The meeting served as a platform for South Africa to present Zero Drafts for the G20 Principles for Inclusive Economic Growth, Employment and Reduced Inequality, G20 High-Level Principles on Green Industrial Policy for Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Jobs and Equality and lastly the Zero Draft for a Critical Minerals Framework.
The meeting was enriched by presentations by Professor Mariana Mazzucato: Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value (University College London) and Special Representative of President Ramaphosa on Task Force One; Mr Amine Idriss Adoum: Director of Infrastructure, Energy, Industrialisation, Trade, and Regional Integration at AUDA-NEPAD and Professor Esther Duflo; Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at MIT.
The Priorities were presented in three sessions as follows:
Session 1: Towards developing G20 Principles for Inclusive Economic Growth, Employment and Reduced Inequality: The Session was enriched by the presentations by the World Bank, International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Organization for Economic and Development (OECD)
Session 2: Zero Draft of the G20 High-Level Principles on Green Industrial Policy for Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Jobs, and Equality: The Session was enriched by the presentations of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), South Centre and Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ).
Session 3: A G20 Critical Minerals Framework: The Session was enriched by the presentations of the Priority Leads: Council for Geo-Science, Mintek and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), as well as the knowledge partners, namely UNDP, UNCTAD and Southern Transitions.
The Zero Drafts were met with broad support from G20 Members, Invited Guests, and Partner Organisations. There was strong recognition that inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, employment, and inequality reduction, along with sustainable and inclusive (green) industrialisation and the responsible, equitable utilisation of critical minerals, are interdependent and mutually reinforcing priorities.
G20 Members, Invited Guests and International Organisations provided invaluable inputs to incorporate and build consensus around the three proposed outcome documents, as described above in preparation for final adoption at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November 2025.
The third Task Force One meeting is scheduled to take place on 18- 19 June 2025.
