President Lula receives B20 Brazil policy recommendations

The Business 20 (B20), the official platform for dialogue between the G20 and the global business community, presented a proposal to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that prioritizes sector-specific issues to guide public policy in alignment with G20 decisions. The proposals were presented during an event at Planalto Palace Wednesday, August 28, in Brasília.

This is the first time the B20 submitted private-sector proposals to the G20 ahead of the summit. In 2024, the Brazilian government leads the global economic forum, with the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (Confederação Nacional da Indústria/CNI) coordinating business engagement initiatives. The proposals presented to President Lula address a range of critical issues, including finance and infrastructure, energy transition and climate, sustainable food systems and agriculture, trade and investment, women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusion, employment and education, digital transformation, and integrity and compliance.

The president expressed gratitude for the presentation, emphasizing its significance as Brazil undergoes “a special moment.” Lula referred to the approval of the tax reform and argued that Brazil can now “turn the key” to become a developed country.

The B20 is working to ensure that there is sufficient time to review the 24 private sector recommendations before the final G20 meeting in November. Dan Ioschpe, chair of B20 Brazil and Ricardo Alban, president of the forum’s Advisory Board and the Brazilian CNI presented the communiqué.

Over the past few months, seven thematic task forces and the B20 Brazil Action Council, comprising over a thousand members representing more than 40 countries, have developed a series of recommendations. According to Dan Ioschpe, presenting these recommendations enhances the role of the business forum during Brazil's G20 presidency by advancing public policy dialogue and formulation.

Lula believes Brazil has an important role in the energy transition process. "We have the resources and expertise to shape the future of our country," he stated. The president highlighted vital recommendations, particularly the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and its impact on employment. "It is up to us to make the right decisions," he concluded.

Minister Rui Costa (Chief of Staff) underscored the importance of financing energy transition and boosting agricultural productivity. Meanwhile, Minister Fernando Haddad (Finance) highlighted the carbon market regulation by the Brazilian Congress and the projected disbursement of BRL 32,1 billion ($5.8 billion) from the Climate Fund by 2026. Both ministers stressed the need to restore investment in education in Brazil, bringing the quality of primary, technical and full-time education back to the forefront of the national debate. "We aim to have 3.6 million more people in full-time education, marking a significant leap in quality for the country," said Lula.

KEY PRIORITIES – Dan Ioschpe said five strategic pillars guide B20’s work, all connected to the G20's three priorities. That made it possible to "draw up the necessary recommendations to advance relevant issues, as well as propose solutions to major global challenges, such as the energy transition and the decarbonization process, digital transformation and the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality, among others," said Ioschpe.

The CNI president highlighted the importance of involving the Brazilian industry in the 2024 discussions. Alban highlighted one of the administration's key principles, outlining specific recommendations for the Brazilian private sector. "We are confident that the recommendations from B20 Brazil can propel the country into a new era of growth. We anticipate that these proposals will be implemented. That is why B20 prioritized high-impact suggestions that can be executed," Alban asserted.

The 24 B20 Brazil recommendations will be available in full on the forum's official website: b20brasil.org. These proposals will be discussed during the B20 Summit Brazil, scheduled for October 24-25 in São Paulo. The event will draw over a thousand attendees, including guests from Brazil and other G20 member countries. Registration for the event is open but limited.  Interested individuals can register at this link.   

ENGAGEMENT GROUP — The B20 Brazil structure includes, alongside Chair Dan Ioschpe and Sherpa Constanza Negri, Brazilian CEOs leading the task forces: Ricardo Mussa (Raízen S.A.) for Energy Transition and Climate; Francisco Gomes Neto (Brazilian Aerospace Corporation (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A./Embraer) for Trade and Investment; Gilberto Tomazoni (JBS S.A.) for Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture; Paula Bellizia (Ebanx Ltda.) for the Women, Diversity and Inclusion Action Council; Luciana Ribeiro (eB Capital Ltda.) for Finance and Infrastructure; Walter Schalka (Suzano S.A.) for Employment and Education; Fernando de Rizzo (Tupy S.A.) for Digital Transformation; and Claudia Sender for Integrity and Compliance.

In her remarks, Paula Bellizia, vice president at Ebanx, highlighted the importance of representation for women and other underrepresented groups. Marcela Rocha, director of Corporate Affairs at JBS, emphasized the need for development and financing to boost agricultural productivity, particularly for small-scale farmers, who contribute 30% of global food production.

B20 Brazil also includes approximately 1,200 members and two advisory councils—one national and one international. Chaired by Alban, the national council consists of 15 Brazilian business leaders from various sectors who provide strategic advice to B20 leadership and advocate with authorities.

The business forum is one of the G20's 13 social engagement groups. Its goal is to produce, debate, consolidate and present recommendations to G20 leaders, addressing issues such as combating hunger, reducing social inequalities, advancing energy transition and driving digital transformation.

In 2024, alongside the 19 member countries (South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, United States, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom, Russia and Türkiye) and two regional organizations (African Union and European Union), the Brazilian presidency has invited eight additional countries to participate in the discussions: Portugal, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Nigeria, Egypt, Angola and the United Arab Emirates.

G20 AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY — Over the past two decades, the G20 has played a central role in coordinating responses to global crises, such as stabilizing financial markets and launching a global economic stimulus to address the 2008 financial crisis. Additionally, it led the international fight against the pandemic, implementing a fiscal stimulus of over USD 5 trillion to mitigate job and income losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  

In 2022, G20 members accounted for 88.2% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 75% of international trade in goods and services, encompassing 78.6% of the global population. The group also significantly impacts Brazil's industrial sector: in 2023, the G20 represented 71.8% of Brazil’s exports of industrial goods (USD 127.3 billion) and 85.8% of its imports (USD 187.4 billion) in the manufacturing industry.