If anyone needed a reminder of why the International Chamber of Commerce remains the world’s most important voice for global business, the recent meeting of the ICC National Committee in Johannesburg, South Africa, provided it clearly.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the B20 in Johannesburg, was attended by several ICC members from the UK, USA, China, Singapore, Canada, Turkey, South Africa, as well as members of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which hosted the meeting.
From the perspectives of Bernadette Ziller (General Secretary – ICC SA), John WH Denton AO (General Secretary – ICC Paris), Lord Karan Billimoria (Chairman – ICC UK), Chris Southworth (General Secretary – ICC UK), Julian Cassum (Deputy General Secretary – Commerce | International Chamber of Commerce ICC USA), the message was undeniable.
The ICC does not merely participate in global economic processes. It shapes them.
This resonates strongly as South Africa leads a pivotal B20 cycle.
While welcoming the delegates, Bernadette Ziller spoke about the long and fruitful collaboration between ICC Paris and ICC SA.
He also highlighted various initiatives that ICC SA has organised, particularly in the SMME space and women empowerment.
John Denton echoed these sentiments by reinforcing the strategic truth that the ICC has deliberately re-weighted its global bandwidth to accelerate economic opportunities in Africa.
“We have been able to reallocate a large amount of ICC bandwidth to this great opportunity that supports development opportunities for economic growth in Africa.Denton said..
This commitment is not conceptual. This is visible in the ICC’s full participation across the B20 South Africa in 2025, where its leadership is providing measurable influence and policy alignment.
ICC participation in South Africa’s B20 in 2025
- ICC and WCF’s strong leadership in all eight B20 working groups ensures that local African perspectives shape global recommendations.
- Achieved aligned language and direct reference to ICC positions in B20 trade, finance and digital transformation recommendations to G20 leaders.
- Co-hosted key events, including the 4th United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development, attended by Whitney Baird on behalf of USCIB.
- Contribution to the B20 Special Report on Inclusive Business with a focus on women, youth and SMEs.
- And importantly, it has been chosen to deliver the official B20 Legacy Initiative for 2025: The origins of African traderequested directly by the South African B20 presidency.
Emphasizing the importance of this trust, John Denton said:They see the ICC as not only providing policy input, but actually capable of developing something substantial for the continent...”
This is one of the strongest signals that the ICC not only influences global politics, but is called upon to build lasting legacies for Africa’s long-term economic development.
ICC’s role as the largest trade organization in the world
Lord Karan Bilimoria emphasized the immense influence and credibility of the ICC.The ICC is truly global in our outlook and the way we operate. Most people don’t know that it is the largest business organization in the world with 45 million businesses across all sectors.Billy Moriah said..
Lord Bailey Morea warns that the digital divide is one of the world’s most acute challenges and there are still too many people who are digitally excluded.
“The biggest challenge right now is the basics of digital inclusion. We can get it with bandwidth around. We have a big job and I think the ICC can do it.Bilimoria said..
And on digital business, he was blunt – “Billions and billions of dollars will be saved when the world implements digital commerce. It saves time from three months to a few hours. ICC can take global leadership...”
This is why B20 South Africa is a strategic moment for Africa to drive digital transformation and inclusive business at scale.
USCIB President and CEO Whitney Byrd reminded the room of the importance of sustained engagement, especially as the United States prepares for its G20 leadership cycle, which “Any lost engagement is a lost opportunity..”
“This government is very focused when it comes to any international or multilateral interaction and looking at the basic principles or documents that make up an organization. This puts the UN under a lot of pressure to get closer to the original charter.Byrd said..
This reinforces the case for the necessity of a permanent ICC presence. When governments stall or pivot, the ICC keeps the global business community engaged and influential.
Why is this B20 year important for Africa?
Among all the speakers, the message was clear. Africa is not waiting for global opportunities. Africa is shaping them..
Julian Kassum spoke about TradeRoots Africa, an official ICC-B20 legacy initiative to be unveiled this week.
South Africa’s B20 allows the ICC to:
- It affects global trade, finance and digital frameworks
- Include inclusive trade in G20 recommendations
- Investment pressure and risk weighting reforms
- Accelerating participation of SMEs, youth and women
- Creating sustainable trade corridors through The origins of African trade
- Shaping development models based on economic activities, not commitments
And as Denton points out, “The leadership of the B20 has been first class and the community they have provided has been very good for the ICC...”
Final thought
A sometimes overlooked fact is that the ICC has shaped business engagement with the G20 since its establishment in 2010, playing a consistent and leading role in shaping process, providing leadership and policy expertise, strengthening outcomes, and supporting continuity.
Globally, the ICC is driving reforms, frameworks and legacy-building initiatives that will define how the world trades in 2026 and beyond.
This is not just a B20 year.. it is a global turning point and Africa is at the center of it.
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