ERIA Joins T20 Brazil Midterm Conference, Shapes G20 Agenda

Rio de Janeiro, 2-3 July 2024: The T20 Brazil Midterm Conference, held on 2-3 July 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, marked a pivotal moment in Brazil's G20 presidency. Convening T20 members, international think tanks, academia, and representatives from the public and private sectors, the conference aimed to solidify policy recommendations for the G20 leaders.

Organised by the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI), the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (FUNAG), and the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), the conference served as a platform for generating solutions to pressing global challenges to be addressed by the G20 summit. Six thematic panels addressed key areas identified by the T20 Brazil Task Forces, namely: Combating Inequalities; Sustainable Climate Action and Energy Transition; Inclusive Digital Transformation; Reform of the International Financial Architecture; International Trade and Investments; and Multilateralism and Global Governance.

As a co-chair of this task force, Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Senior Research Fellow for Innovation at ERIA, chaired the discussions and panel that deliberated on strengthening multilateral institutions, fostering global cooperation, and promoting a more inclusive international order.

A significant outcome of the conference was the early delivery of the T20 Brazil Communiqué. This document, compiled from the work of the T20 Task Forces, presents ten concrete policy recommendations aligned with Brazil's G20 priorities. For the first time, the Communiqué was presented in advance to the G20 Sherpa Maurício Lyrio, aiming to influence Sherpa as well as ministerial negotiations and contribute to the drafting of the joint declaration at the G20 Leaders' Summit scheduled for 18-19 November in Rio de Janeiro.

During the closing panel, the G20 Sherpa and the T20 Task Forces co-chairs highlighted the importance of implementing the recommendations with strategic approaches: Collaborative Solutions, addressing global challenges through concerted efforts from governments, think tanks, academia, the private sector, and civil society; Focus on Sustainability and Inclusion, emphasising sustainable development practices, inclusive growth, and bridging social and economic divides; and Adapting Global Institutions, to address contemporary challenges and ensure effective multilateral cooperation.

ERIA's continued participation and contribution to the Think Tank 20 underscores the growing influence of its partnership with global think tanks in shaping the G20 agenda.