During the Think20 (T20) meetings held in Johannesburg ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, key recommendations on global governance, the trading system, development finance, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and climate policies were shared with G20 representatives. TEPAV played an active role both through its contributions to the T20 Communiqué process and its participation in the meetings and panels.
This year’s Think20 (T20) Summit — the think tank engagement group of the G20 — was held on 13–14 November in Johannesburg, South Africa. TEPAV, which has long contributed to the T20 process aimed at providing policy-relevant analyses for decision makers, was represented at the summit by Assoc. Prof. Sait Akman, Director of the G20 Studies Center, and Gülbin Şahinbeyoğlu, Executive Director.
Held ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled for 22–23 November with the participation of heads of state, senior officials, and Sherpas, the T20 meetings provided a platform where high-level representatives from G20 countries discussed policy recommendations on pressing global challenges.
The T20 Communiqué Presented to G20 Officials
Prepared as the outcome of a year-long effort coordinated by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA), the Institute for Global Dialogue (IDG), and the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC), the T20 Communiqué was formally presented to G20 officials during the summit.
The summit brought together more than 250 participants representing think tanks, universities, civil society organizations and international institutions from around the world, and hosted over 20 panels and side events. Under the overarching South African G20 theme of “Solidarity, Inclusivity and Sustainability,” to strive for a more just and sustainable future, the discussions in the Summit covered a wide range of issues, including the future of global governance; digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence; disruptions in the global trading system; financing of infrastructure investments; the role of multilateral development banks; risks and opportunities of digital currencies; vulnerabilities in climate and food systems; and the role of green minerals in the global transition.
“The real challenge in global trade is not only the erosion of the WTO’s functions, but also of its principles”
Speaking at the session moderated by Dr. Trudi Hartzenberg of Tralac and titled “The WTO Rethink: Repairing Global Prosperity and Advancing Equality Through Free and Fair Trade,” Associate Professor Sait Akman, Director of TEPAV’s G20 Studies Center, underlined that the fundamental problem of the global trading system is not limited to the institutional functioning of the World Trade Organization. He stressed that the WTO’s norms and principles have been steadily undermined, especially as a result of policies adopted by G20 members.
Noting that the current geopolitical environment makes a comprehensive WTO reform difficult in the short term, Akman stated that “revitalizing multilateralism is essential to prevent the system from becoming entirely fragile.” He also shared his recommendations on the steps that G20 countries need to take.
“Data-driven analysis is critical for localizing global policies”
Speaking at the panel titled “Global Finance Reimagined: MDBs, Think Tanks and the Road to G20,” TEPAV Executive Director Gülbin Şahinbeyoğlu highlighted the role of think tanks in the ongoing transformation of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
Moderated by Nicolas Buchoud, Senior Advisor at the Asian Development Bank Institute, the panel underscored the growing importance of new instruments such as hybrid capital, local currency lending mechanisms, and regional credit rating initiatives.
Şahinbeyoğlu stressed that strengthening local data ecosystems is indispensable both for inclusive development financing and for climate-focused solutions.
The Rising Influence of the Global South on the T20 Agenda
The past four G20 presidencies — held by Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa — have significantly bolstered the influence of Global South countries in global governance. This trend was clearly reflected in the T20 agenda in Johannesburg.
26 Recommendations, 120 Experts, 5 Task Forces
The T20 Communiqué includes 26 core policy recommendations, developed with the input of 120 experts working across five distinct task forces. These recommendations overall provide evidence-based guidance for G20 nations. Experts from TEPAV also took active part in T20 process and the Task Force works on behalf of Türkiye to develop solutions to the current global challenges.
A Roadmap Amid Geopolitical Tensions
With its set of policy recommendations in areas such as trade, digital transformation, development finance, sustainability, and the climate–energy transition, the Communiqué outlines a critical roadmap for G20 countries to strengthen global cooperation.
Roundtable with the T20 Advisory Council
Following the summit, a roundtable organized by SAIIA at the University of the Witwatersrand discussed what role the G20 play in ensuring global cooperation to deal with the current global challenges, and how it can navigate the differences among great powers.
Representing TEPAV, Associate Professor Sait Akman assessed the benchmarks of success for the T20, one of the most impactful engagement groups and shared his recommendations on how the T20 could become a more influential actor within the G20 process.
Click here for the T20 Communiqué
Click here for the T20 Summit program
