Saudi Sherpa Discusses Priorities of G20 Meetings in India

The Saudi Sherpa held a workshop with representatives of the participating parties in the G20 meetings. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Sherpa held a workshop with representatives of the participating parties in the G20 meetings. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Sherpa Discusses Priorities of G20 Meetings in India

The Saudi Sherpa held a workshop with representatives of the participating parties in the G20 meetings. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Sherpa held a workshop with representatives of the participating parties in the G20 meetings. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi officials reviewed the priorities of the G20 for the current year, which include supporting global economic growth in light of geopolitical tensions, strengthening global value chains and flexible logistics services, in addition to a range of issues related to health, energy, food security, education, tourism, the labor market and the digital economy.

These discussions were held during a workshop held by the Saudi Ministry of Finance that brought together the Saudi Sherpa Office and representatives of relevant government agencies.

The workshop provided an overview of the G20 agenda under the Indian Presidency for the year 2023 and discussed Saudi Arabia’s role within the group, in addition to means to maximize the benefits of the initiatives launched by the Kingdom during its presidency of the G20 in 2020.

Participants also discussed the roadmap and the Kingdom’s participation in the group’s meetings leading to the summit of leaders of the G20 countries, which will be held in New Delhi on Sept. 9-10, 2023.

The Sherpa is an envoy representing a head of a government participating in the main agenda prior to the convening of the summits of the leaders of the G20 countries, with the aim of preparing for negotiations that culminate in the agreement on the final statements issued by those summits.

The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and United States, in addition to the European Union.

The G20 members represent around 90 percent of the global GDP, over 80 percent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.



Japan Cautions about Uncertainty from Trump Trade Policies

 Cyclists ride through an intersection as the Tokyo Skytree (C-behind) looms in the background in the Minowa area of Tokyo on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Cyclists ride through an intersection as the Tokyo Skytree (C-behind) looms in the background in the Minowa area of Tokyo on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
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Japan Cautions about Uncertainty from Trump Trade Policies

 Cyclists ride through an intersection as the Tokyo Skytree (C-behind) looms in the background in the Minowa area of Tokyo on April 15, 2025. (AFP)
Cyclists ride through an intersection as the Tokyo Skytree (C-behind) looms in the background in the Minowa area of Tokyo on April 15, 2025. (AFP)

Japan's government warned of uncertainty over the impact of US trade policies as tariffs could hurt the global economy but it also said in a monthly report on Friday that the domestic economy was recovering moderately thanks to a solid corporate sector.

Tokyo also said the downside risks to its economic outlook were growing due to US President Donald Trump's tariffs and it warned of the impact of market volatility.

President Trump touted "big progress" in tariff talks with Japan on Wednesday, although it was only the one of the first rounds of face-to-face talks since he announced a barrage of duties on global imports, rocking markets and stoking recession fears. The two nations plan to hold a second meeting later this month.

"The economy is recovering moderately, while uncertainty is arising from US trade policies," Japan's Cabinet Office said in its monthly report for April, issued on Friday.

The government expects the economy to continue recovering but higher US tariffs could impact Japan via trade and market turmoil, it said.

"It is necessary to be more vigilant than before about the impact on the domestic and international economies," an official at the Cabinet Office said.

While consumer sentiment was weakening due to higher inflation - notably for daily necessities such as food, private consumption, which accounts for more than half of the economy, showed signs of picking up, the report said.

The government cut its view of corporate sentiment for the first time since March 2022, saying it was "almost flat" after a Bank of Japan survey showed big manufacturers' business sentiment worsened to a one-year low in the three months to March.