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Development agenda: can it make a difference?

"The big question is how can the G20 use its position to add something to the existing development fora" Dirk Willem te Velde In less than two months when the leaders of the G20 countries convene in Seoul they will face a stark choice. They may choose to address issues such as financial regulation, bankers’ bonuses and stimulus exit strategies – all issues which resonate at home but leave developing countries largely out of the equation. Or they can choose to improve the legitimacy and relevance of the G20 for poor countries by ensuring their actions are coherent in promoting development. This would mean promoting a development dimension of core actions within the G20, such as those on financial regulation and financial safety nets, and establishing the terms of a new multi-year action plan on development. The G20 was a financial and technical grouping which emerged from the fall out of the East Asian Financial Crisis with little regard for the agenda of the poorest countries. The 2008 global financial crisis forced the G20 into the public’s gaze. Leaders had to solv

Mexico seeking to lead G20 development issues

By Kim Young-jin Korea’s emergence as the first Asian country to host a G20 summit won’t be the only new happening when the forum opens in Seoul on Nov. 11 - it will also mark the first time development issues appear on the agenda. G20 leaders agreed at the Toronto Summit in June to establish a working group on development, recognizing the importance of narrowing the gap between rich and poor nations in achieving balanced growth. Seoul, aiming to act as a bridge between the advanced and developing worlds, has made the issue a key part of its chairmanship platform. Though some may grumble that the issue should be left for the U.N., Seoul believes that the sustainable global growth the G20 seeks cannot be attained with a widening development gyre. In this sense, Korea has a surefire supporter in Mexico, another G20 country busy voicing the concerns of developing and emerging economies. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Mexican Ambassador to Seoul Martha Ortiz de Rosas Gomez said the G20 must go further in tackling developmental gaps and outlined ways Mex

G20 summit offers golden opportunity to show the best of Korea

By Bae Ji-sook More than 20,000 people are expected to visit Korea during the G20 Summit and associated business meetings in November, which will be a great opportunity to show off the country has to offer. But many people are still confused over what _ in terms of tourism _ should be showcased: The ever developing information and technology and flamboyant night life, or some of the traditional customs that many Koreans barely remember? The days of wearing Korean traditional hanbok, living in traditional hanok and drinking herbal tea are fading. And the Korean tourism industry is seemingly sandwiched between its two neighbors _ it’s behind Japan in delicacies and still unidentifiable from the large-scale Chinese culture. Against this backdrop, the key to invigorating and promoting Korean tourism lies on individual anecdotes and myths that lie behind every bit of Korea, said Lee Charm, president of the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO). He said making foreigners understand and be attracted to one’s culture through interesting stories could get their attention and win t

Five non-G20 nations invited to Seoul Summit

By Cho Jin-seo The Netherlands was given the boot from the G20 summit for the first time since its inception two years ago, while Singapore has taken its place ahead of November’s Seoul Summit. The G20 Seoul preparation committee said Friday that it has sent invitations to five non-G20 member nations and seven international organizations. Now the “G20 plus five” has a better geographical representation, the committee’s deputy chief Rhee Chang-yong said. Ethiopia and Malawi represent Africa, and Singapore and Vietnam are from Asia. Spain, which had been invited to every G20 summit along with the Netherlands, survived the cut for Europe’s sake. “It might be perplexing to the Netherlands. We feel a bit sorry for them,” Rhee said in a press briefing held at the committee’s headquarters in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. “But the Sherpas of the G20 member nations have finally agreed that we needed to have a better geographical balance. There was a consensus that a certain region had been over-represented.” That certain region is Western Europe. It has four fixed member nations

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