As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg next week, the country is placing major emphasis on expanding Africa–G20 economic engagement, particularly in trade, debt sustainability, and critical minerals. South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, outlined these priorities during an interaction in New Delhi, stressing that the upcoming summit represents a pivotal moment for Africa’s development agenda.

The G20 Summit, scheduled for November 22–23 in Johannesburg, will bring together world leaders in South Africa’s economic hub. According to Sooklal, a key priority is strengthening partnerships between the G20 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that Africa offers immense opportunities, and the G20’s support in scaling trade and investment could deliver transformative economic gains for the continent.

Another critical concern for African economies, Sooklal said, is debt sustainability, a longstanding issue that was further intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic. He highlighted that South Africa aims to build on the G20 framework on debt adopted in 2020 under Saudi Arabia’s presidency. Many African nations face mounting financial pressure as a significant share of their GDP is spent on debt servicing, limiting investment in development. To address this, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a former Finance Minister to head an African committee on debt relief, with its recommendations feeding into G20 finance discussions.

Sooklal further underscored the increasing global focus on critical minerals, which are indispensable for advanced technologies, clean energy transitions, and future-facing industries. Africa, he said, is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of these minerals. However, he emphasized that South Africa and other African nations do not want to remain mere suppliers of raw materials—they seek value addition, technology partnerships, and equitable participation in global supply chains.

Climate action, global governance reform, and restructuring of institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO, and the UN will also feature prominently at the summit. These issues have traditionally been central to the G20 agenda, and South Africa intends to push for reforms that give the Global South a stronger voice.

By centering Africa’s priorities at the G20, South Africa hopes to open new avenues for growth, resilience, and shared prosperity.