ICC releases Global Survey of Business Policy Priorities for G20 Leaders

Drawing on ICC’s unique and extensive international network of businesses and associations in over 130 countries, the survey shows business’ foremost priorities for the G20 to be advancing a multilateral trade agenda, and taking action to improve investment and infrastructure – specifically lowering trade barriers and establishing a multilateral framework for investment. It also found intellectual property protection and sustainable energy to be topics that where possible, should be addressed by G20 leaders.

“The prioritization of trade sends a clear signal that business believes that G20 leadership can progress the current momentum in international trade negotiations,” said ICC Chairman Terry McGraw. “In the aftermath of last year’s historic World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on trade facilitation, we now have the most robust trade agenda in decades. With a renewed sense of collaboration among the world’s trading partners, the time is right for the G20 to build upon the leadership in trade that it so ably demonstrated in St. Petersburg.”

Launched at the 2014 Business-20 (B20) Summit in Sydney today, the Global Survey of Business Policy Priorities for G20 Leaders: Report on Key Findings, reveals that three quarters of surveyed business representatives believe the G20 has been instrumental in improving the global business environment following the financial crisis in 2008 and remains a relevant body for addressing global economic issues.

A large majority of survey respondents said that business should be more involved in the G20 process via participation in institutionalized meetings with G20 ministers, inclusion in official issue working groups and direct dialogue with G20 leaders.

“The G20’s decisions and agenda impact core business goals for trade, investment, economic growth and job creation and are increasingly shaping intergovernmental policies that affect business internationally. Findings from our survey clearly demonstrate that businesses the world over, of every size and sector, overwhelmingly recognize the importance of active business engagement in the G20 process,” said ICC Secretary General John Danilovich. “ICC has been deeply involved in the work of the G20, and strives to represent the voice of international business in the deliberations of G20 leaders. Our survey findings underline the importance of having a robust business-to-government dialogue on the G20 agenda.”

ICC created the Global Survey to gauge business’ perception of the G20 and identify business policy priorities for G20 leaders that encourage business expansion and job creation, both of which are crucial to achieving the G20’s goal of strong and sustainable growth.

The Survey solicited views from large corporations and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) across a wide breadth of industries.

“The inclusive nature of the Survey ensures that businesses—regardless of size, geographical region or sector—are given an opportunity to convey views on the policy issues of key importance to them,” said Mr Danilovich.

The approximately 2,000 survey respondents come from more than 100 countries, including all G20 member countries. Significantly, the majority of the respondents were from SMEs and almost half of respondents were business owners or CEOs.

ICC effectively targets G20 policy development on a global scale through its G20 CEO Advisory Group, which serves to intensify top-level international business engagement and to ensure the inclusion of business views in the deliberations of G20 leaders.

Download the ICC Global Survey of Business Policy Priorities for G20 Leaders: Report on Key Findings

Learn more about the ICC G20 CEO Advisory Group.