EXPLAINED: Understanding the G-20 Summit in 12 points

İpek Yezdani – ISTANBUL

DHA photo

Over the last few months, Turkey has been preparing to host the much anticipated G-20 Summit 2015 for its first time at Antalya’s Belek resort on Nov. 15 and 16. Hürriyet has prepared a guide to further delve into what G-20 means, who will attend the summit and which topics will be on agenda in the guide below collected in 12 points.



1. What is the G-20? (Not a “club of the rich nations”)

The G-20, abbreviation for “The Group of Twenty,” consists of 19 countries that have the world’s most major and industrialized economies and the European Union. The G-20 does not only include the G-7, the seven richest developed countries of the world (also known as “the club of the rich nations”) including United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan, but also includes developing countries such as Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, India, China, Indonesia, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. The G-20 countries make up 85 percent of world economy and do around 75 percent of world trade. Despite being a major economy compared to some member countries, Taiwan, Switzerland, Norway, Iran and Venezuela are not in the G-20. Many European Union members are not independently represented. Instead they are represented by the European Commission in the forum.


2. Who are attending the G-20 Summit 2015 in Antalya?

The G-20 summits first only gathered those at the level of finance ministers but after the global economic crisis in 2008, it began to gather those at the level of heads of state as well. U.S. President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande and Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with many other leaders around the world will attend the summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will represent Turkey. Around 25,000 people are expected to attend the summit.


3. Why will Turkey host the summit?

On Dec. 1, 2014, Turkey took over the G-20 presidency from Australia. Before the summit, about 60 minister meetings and events have been arranged in different provinces around the country as a part of the G-20 presidency. In the aftermath of the summit, Turkey will have hosted 60,000 foreign visitors in the G-20 events.


4. What will leaders talk about at the summit?

Founded in 1999, issues on accelerating international financial stability have mostly been reviewed but in the recent summits, significant political and social issues ranging from global terror, climate change to sustainable development have been begun to be discussed. Especially in bilateral talks, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the refugee crisis, along with global and economic issues, are expected to be discussed in this year’s summit. Strategies on reforms and exit from global stagnation under the title of growth, investments, trade, employment and competitiveness will also be reviewed. 


5. What are Turkey’s priorities in the summit?

Turkey especially wants to prioritize the situation in Syria, Syrian refugees and the fight against terror in the summit. In the first day of the summit, terror and refugee crisis will be discussed at the suggestion of President Erdoğan. According to sources from the Foreign Ministry, Turkey will also highlight the negative effects of instability in Syria on all countries in the region including the European countries due to the refugee crisis.


6. How many journalists will follow the summit?

According to information from the Foreign Ministry, around 2,500 national and international press members have been accredited. A 3,000-person media center has also been set up for press members.


7. How about security measures?

High-end security measures have been taken in Antalya for the summit. A total of 13,400 police officers including 1,400 traffic police, will be on duty during the summit 24/7. The Belek resort, where the summit will be held, has been declared as a red zone. No visitors without an accreditation card will be able to enter the hotels. The International Terminal of Antalya Airport has been reserved for the G-20 Summit. A total of 350 new surveillance cameras and face detection systems have been set up in the region. Coast guard ships will also be deployed against possible threats coming from the sea.


8. Which country will Turkey invite for the summit?

Every year, the G-20 presidential country has the right to invite countries it prefers. Turkey has accordingly invited Azerbaijan to the summit. In addition, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, Zimbabwe and Senegal will also be able to attend the G-20, despite not being a member.


9. Which ministries and institutions work in collaboration for the summit?

A number of ministries and institutions in Turkey have been involved in the G-20 events. Under the coordination of Deputy PM Cevdet Yılmaz, foreign, economy, finance ministries and many others manage the events.


10. Where will the next G-20 Summit will be held?

Last year, the summit was held in Brisbane, Australia. After this year’s summit in Antalya, Hangzhou, China will host the summit in 2016.


11. How many hotels are on duty in the G-20?

Some 30 out of 46 hotels in the Belek region have been declared as part of the summit zone where only those accredited will be able to enter. The other 16 hotels have been reserved for participants from the business world and women institutions.


12. Is there a smartphone application developed specifically for the G-20?

An application named “G20 Antalya Summit” has been developed for smartphones. The app includes the summit program, transportation, maps and weather information.