G20 Country Argentina: Shaping The Agenda With South American Flair
A full-time member of the G20 bloc, Argentina is known for its agricultural exports and remains an important player in global trade.
President: Alberto Fernández
- A lawyer, and “sometimes rock guitarist”, 64-year-old Alberto Fernández took over as President of Argentina in December 2019.
Argentina is a diverse nation situated at the southern tip of South America, and has emerged as a prominent player within the Group of Twenty (G20), a forum formed to bring together the world's major economies. One of the largest economies in South America, Argentina is known for its agricultural exports, but has diversified into manufacturing and services. It has been an active member of the G20 since its formation in 1999. Engagement within the forum has allowed Argentina to influence global economic policies and collaborate with other major economies. The country remains an important player in global trade, despite its economic fluctuations and debt challenges.
Argentina hosted the 13th G20 Summit on November 30 and December 1, 2018, in Buenos Aires after it took over the Presidency of the Group of Twenty on December 1, 2017, till December 1, 2018. The Buenos Aires G20 Summit centred around the future of work, infrastructure for development, a sustainable food future, and a gender mainstreaming strategy across the G20 agenda.
Apart from the G20 member nations, the 2018 Buenos Aires G20 Summit, held under the presidency of Mauricio Macri, was attended by 10 special invitees which included seven countries and four organisations. The guest countries that participated in the summit were Chile, Jamaica, Netherlands, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, and Spain while the four international organisations included the Caribbean Community (represented by Jamaica), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).
The G20 joint statement stressed building consensus for fair and sustainable development through an agenda with an aim to be people-centred, inclusive, and forward-looking.
It welcomed the strong global economic growth but also pointed out key risks including financial vulnerabilities and geopolitical concerns.
The participating members at the 2018 G20 Summit endorsed the Buenos Aires Action Plan — a Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) adopted by a delegation of 138 States on September 12, 1978, in Buenos Aires.
The leaders also acknowledged the challenges for individuals, businesses, and governments as a result of transformative technologies and endorsed the Menu of Policy Options for the Future of Work which would facilitate the transition.
The 2022 Indonesia G20 Summit held in Bali was also attended by Alberto Fernández who will also attend the 2023 India Summit.
Argentina is among the other 20 nations of the bloc that accounts for 65 per cent of the world population, 75 per cent of global trade and 85 per cent of the world economy.
The Group of Twenty was formed in 1999 in the wake of the financial crisis of 1997 that hit East Asia and Southeast Asia. The member nations of the bloc include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US, as well as the European Union.
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