After 6 months of work and proactive engagement by its members, the B20 India Action Council on African Economic Integration – An Agenda for Global Business met for its fourth & final meeting on June 30, 2023. As a contributing member to the Action Council, The Bridge Tank attended the meeting, represented by its chairman Joel Ruet.
The B20 India Action Council on African Economic Integration is an initiative of the Business20 (B20) – the G20’s engagement group with the business community – launched under India’s 2023 presidency and chaired by Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises. A long-time advocate for greater economic integration of the African continent and a strong proponent for North-South & South-South engagement, The Bridge Tank had joined the Action Council in January 2023, during the B20 Inception Meeting.
The Action Council’s co-chairs present during the meeting included Mauro Bellini, Chairman, Marcopolo Board of Directors, Brazil, Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Nigeria, Patricia Nzolantima, Founder, Bizzoly Holding, Democratic Republic of Congo, Valentina Mintah, Founder, West Blue Consulting, Ghana, Cas Coovadia, CEO, Business Unity, South Africa, Birju Pradipkumar Patel, Joint CEO, ETG World, South Africa, & Sudarshan Venu, Managing Director, TVS Motor Company, India.
The meeting presented the policy paper developed by the Action Council along five priority themes:
- Promoting stronger human capital outcomes across health, education and skilling
- Transform agriculture and food systems to sustainably improve productivity, food security and nutrition levels
- Structural transformation through industrialisation via private investments, technology adoption, MSME enablement and energy access
- Facilitating trade to harness the potential of integration into regional and global value chains
- Bridging the physical and digital connectivity gaps through facilitating investment.
The policy paper and its recommendations will now be submitted to the G20 and presented to stakeholders through B20/G20 dialogue. The paper hopes to serve as the basis for continued advocacy and dialogue in favour of African economic integration.
