RIYADH — The G20 Sherpas, the official representatives of G20 Member country Leaders, met for the first time under the Saudi G20 Presidency in Riyadh this week. They were joined by invited guest countries as well as international and regional organizations to begin discussions towards “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”.

The pivotal role of the G20 Sherpas is to help pave the way to the G20 Leaders’ Summit by progressing policy discussions in meetings throughout the year. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host a series of Sherpa Meetings during its Presidency culminating in the Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh on Nov. 21-22, 2020.

Saudi Arabia will facilitate the dialogue process to guide the overarching policy discussions. Building on previous G20 achievements and reflecting the spirit of collaboration among our Leaders, Saudi Arabia is determined to build consensus around solutions to address our common challenges.

The first Sherpa meeting focused on the aims of the 2020 G20 Presidency year:

Empowering People, by creating the conditions in which people — especially women and youth — can live, work and thrive, with discussions on policies related to access to opportunities for all, sustainable development goals, trade and investment, financial inclusion, employment, women empowerment, health, education, and tourism.

Safeguarding the Planet, by fostering collective efforts to protect our environment, with discussions on environment, climate, water, food and energy.

Shaping New Frontiers, by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement with a strong focus on digital economy.

The meeting was chaired by Fahad Almubarak, the Saudi Sherpa, who elaborated: “The G20 has a responsibility to the world to overcome current and emerging issues, to tackle global challenges together, and to make the world a better place for all.”

Meanhwhile, the first official event for the Saudi G20 Finance Track was held on Thursday with a Symposium here.

Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) Governor Ahmed Alkholifey attended the symposium. It brought together around 300 participants and representatives from across the G20 members, invited guest countries, international organizations, academia, and the private sector.

They gathered to discuss the challenges impeding access to opportunities and the potential policy options to address these challenges.

Al Jadaan, opened the event by welcoming delegates to the first official event for the Saudi Arabia G20 Finance Track and highlighting the importance of enhancing access to opportunities to ensure that growth dividends are shared by all.

The symposium included sessions exploring the links between access to opportunities and economic growth, with a particular focus on the obstacles for women, young people, and Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs).

Participants also discussed the role of the public and private sectors in leveraging technology and innovation to create jobs, and opportunities that promote sustainable and inclusive growth.

Participants had an opportunity to view displays from the Kingdom’s businesses, NGOs, and government entities that focused on technology, innovation, sustainable jobs, and the empowerment of both women and young people. — SG