Esteemed delegates:
Distinguished guests:
Ladies and gentlemen:
On behalf of our government and the people of South Africa, and on my own behalf, I wish to start by extending a warm South African welcome to all the delegates from various parts of the world.
I also wish to extend a special word of gratitude to the provincial government of the Free State, the Mangaung Metro, and the Free State University for hosting this event. I am also grateful to the Premier for supporting this meeting and gathering.
I would have liked to be there with you but unfortunately due to other unforeseen official commitments, it was not practical. There is a sense in which this meeting is a historic occasion as it signals the beginning of our G20 programme.
The importance of South Africa’s G20 Presidency
This year South Africa has the honour of occupying the G20 Presidency. This is the first time that the G20 is being hosted on the African continent. This is a great honour that has been bestowed on our country, and it is an honour that we don’t take lightly.
In the execution of this huge responsibility, and building on the Brazil theme, South Africa has adopted the overarching theme of ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.’
Our chosen theme is inspired by the realisation that, given the development complexities of our time and in particular the transnational nature of these complexities such as transnational conflict, displacement of people, poverty and inequality, climate change and pandemics- cooperation among nations is becoming increasingly essential.
As South Africa, we also hold the view that cooperation among nations also provides us with the unique opportunity to benefit from some of the most groundbreaking scientific advances of our time.
This includes technological advances such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cybernetics and others, which are gradually transforming not only the way societal institutions function, but also how our world functions.
South Africa’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Priorities for 2025
For the duration of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, our science, technology, and innovation priorities will include the following strategic priorities:
1.Strengthening our country’s pandemic preparedness capacity;
2.Driving targeted research and development of emerging technologies and its diffusion into key economic sectors such as energy, agriculture, mining, health, and the circular and digital economies, with a deliberate focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence;
3.Continuing with the development of critical and high-end skills, through among others, our country’s Presidential PhD Programme (PPhP);
4.Mobilising additional funding and resources to raise the scale and impact of our key programmes and interventions and to use existing funding and resources innovatively;
5. Continuing with the upgrading and development of new science infrastructure and the further development of our SKA partnership; and
6.Continuing to strengthen strategic partnerships with a key focus on the African continent and the Global South.
The focus of the Research and Innovation Working Group
Guided by this context, we therefore see the role of the Research and Innovation Working Group as advancing an agenda that is solidarity driven in the scientific enterprise and innovation, and the promotion of science-based policy advice for sustainability.
Building on Brazil’s Presidency, South Africa has thus chosen themes like open innovation for development, biodiversity information for development, and diversity, equity, and inclusivity in science for the Research and Innovation Working Group, aligned with the overall theme.
We also see this Working Group meeting as an opportunity for delegates to develop a shared programme and deliverables and this is because we believe in the importance of co-creating and partnerships.
This Working Group meeting will conclude with the Ministerial Meeting, which I will host as Minister in September 2025. I wish to encourage the Working Group to invest ambition in its efforts to ensure tangible outcomes, which will positively impact the advancement of science and humanity.
I also hope that you will use this Working Group as an opportunity to build new partnerships and strengthen old ones.
In conclusion, I hope that all of you will enjoy your stay in this beautiful part of our country and that you will return to South Africa for subsequent meetings later in the year. I wish you a productive meeting and look forward to the outcomes of your deliberations.
I thank you.
#GovZAUpdates
