‘Transforming for Inclusive Growth’ Prelude to Opening of G20 Business Group Summit

Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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‘Transforming for Inclusive Growth’ Prelude to Opening of G20 Business Group Summit

Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Business Group Logo (B20) at the G20 Summit (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host activities of the G20 business group Summit (B20) in its capital, Riyadh, this week.

This year, the summit will be held under the slogan “Transforming for Inclusive Growth.”

Saudi Arabia has assigned six task-force teams to work on priority fields and a specialized action council to empower women in the fields of work.

Preparations are ongoing to host meetings of the business group, which is a platform for entrepreneurs to present their visions and ideas to leaders at the G20 summit.

The Kingdom will launch this two-day mega event with opening activities in Riyadh on January 15. It officially assumed presidency of the G20 in December 2019 and will preside it until its annual two-day summit, which is scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 21, 2020.

The Business Group is the official platform for the business community at the G20. It acts as a representative of the private sector, representing the global business community in all member states and all economic sectors.

The group was formed in 2010, to be the first business community working group of the G20.

According to B20 Chair Yousef Abdullah al-Benyan, vice chairman and CEO of SABIC and a member of the Investment Committee, the business group is committed to promoting inclusiveness and working according to a deliberate approach.

He said this would help recommendations achieve a tangible impact on the future needs of various businesses, regardless of their size, whether they are within SMEs or startups, and without geographical boundaries.

The main themes in this year’s B20 meetings include digitization, energy, sustainability, climate, finance, infrastructure, trade and investment, integrity and compliance, and the future of work and education, Benyan explained.

He stressed that this represents a unique opportunity for the business community to share best practices in these areas that are crucial for growth.

“These themes will address priority areas and identify and implement potential solutions to achieve the goals. We can benefit from many examples of how to improve and make business more efficient,” he noted.



Gold Eases as Traders Wait for US Economic Data

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. Reuters
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. Reuters
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Gold Eases as Traders Wait for US Economic Data

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. Reuters
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. Reuters

Gold prices eased on Tuesday, while investors awaited a slew of US economic data to gauge the size of the Federal Reserve's expected interest rate cut this month.
Spot gold fell 0.2% at $2,495.50 per ounce by 0630 GMT. Prices hit a record high of $2,531.60 on Aug. 20.
US gold futures steadied at $2,527.50.
The dollar lingered near a two-week high, making bullion less appealing for other currency holders.
"Gold is unable to recapture levels around all-time highs due to lack of fresh positive catalysts. If we see U.S. data pointing to a weak economy and the Fed taking to the narrative of having a jumbo rate cut, gold will rally," said Kelvin Wong, OANDA's senior market analyst for Asia Pacific.
"Prices could go as high as $2,640 this year."
Market focus is on Friday's US August non-farm payrolls report. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect the addition of 165,000 US jobs.
ISM surveys, JOLTS job openings and ADP employment report are also on investors' radar.
Traders currently see a 31% chance of a 50-basis-point rate cut at the Fed's Sept. 17-18 policy meet and a 69% chance of a quarter-point cut.
Last week, data showed US consumer spending picked up in July, arguing against a 50-bp rate cut.
Gold "remains our preferred hedge against geopolitical and financial risks, with additional support from imminent Fed rate cuts and ongoing emerging market central bank buying. We open a long gold trade recommendation," Goldman Sachs said.
Bullion is considered a safe asset amid turmoil and tends to thrive in a low rate environment.
Spot gold may test support at $2,473, a break below that could open the way towards $2,434, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.
Spot silver dipped 0.5% to $28.35, platinum fell 1% to $921.05 and palladium lost 1% to $968.62.