G20 2021 Italy

The Italian G20 Presidency officially opened on January 1^st, 2021. This year will be crucial due to the enormous scale of the challenges facing the entire world, starting with the launch of the anti-Covid vaccination campaigns. The pandemic, together with its effects on health systems and the global economy, has led G20 economies to a closer exam of multilateral initiatives and inter-state cooperation. The Saudi Arabian G20 Presidency concluded with an appeal for global solidarity, as to enable developing countries to cope with the crisis.

The 2021 Italian G20 Presidency now proposes to tackle the consequences of the crisis by focusing on human development, care for the planet and sustainability as key actions by governments and economic players. Among the first major events on the calendar is the videoconference between G20 Members, represented by finance ministers, and deputy central bank governors, scheduled for the 25^th and 26^th of February. During this meeting - the first organized under the Italian G20 Presidency - the delegates will discuss the numerous topics of the G20 Finance Track programme, including digitalization and digital innovation.

The first G20 symposium, scheduled for the 25^th of February, will focus on the role of digital transformation as the driving force of economic recovery, and will aim to stimulate discussions on the most suitable measures to promote productivity growth (prosperity), foster the transition towards sustainability and a greener economy (planet), and guarantee more equal opportunities within and between countries (people). The following day’s meeting will center on finance and digitalization and the challenges and opportunities of digital innovation in the financial sector, with a particular focus on markets and infrastructures.