South Africa recently hosted the official launch of Removing International Obstacles to Sustainable Industrial Policy, a landmark G20 Report co-hosted by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).
At a moment when countries are grappling with climate shocks, widening inequality, and unstable global supply chains, the message from the launch was clear: sustainable industrial policy is no longer optional; it is essential. The report offers concrete proposals to dismantle the international constraints that prevent countries, particularly in the Global South, from pursuing inclusive, resilient, and low-carbon development pathways.
This event marked an important contribution to South Africa’s G20 Presidency, reinforcing the call for a global economic system that places people and the planet at its centre.