https://www.g20.org/news/photo_gallery/treasurer_hockey_address_institute_international_finance_australias_g20_agenda

G20 News is reporting progress at the March Sherpa meetings at the G20. During the second day of sherpa meetings in Australia leading up to the November Brisbane Summit and the June meetings, the building of an Action Plan agenda for November is under way. Policies from the February Communique include, 2% growth targets, anti safe haven work, job creation, investment in small and medium sized enterprises, and infrastructure spending.

As G20 News reported on February 23rd:

“The G20 agreed to lift our collective GDP by more than 2 per cent above the trajectory implied by current policies over the coming 5 years”. This target appeared to be in line with expectations from the IMF communique addressed to the G20 meeting in Sydney. The IMF report suggested that growth could be “projected to increase to about 3¾ percent in 2014 (from 3 percent in 2013) and 4 percent in 2015″ and the report referenced the January World Economic Outlook report.

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of International Monetary Fund said, “”We believe that if the reforms that have been identified (at the G20 in Sydney) are adhered to, delivered by the various authorities, then that is a goal that can be achieved or possibly exceeded.”

•  ”This is over US$2 trillion more in real terms and will lead to significant additional jobs.” and “including to increase investment, lift employment and participation, enhance trade and promote competition, in addition to macroeconomic policies. These actions will form the basis of our comprehensive growth strategies and the Brisbane Action Plan.”
• The legacy issues of the financial crisis of 2008 to 2009 still have weight and need for attention by the G20, evidenced by this in item 10 on the communique, “in response to the global financial crisis: building resilient financial institutions; ending too-big-to-fail; addressing shadow banking risks; and making derivatives markets safer.”

The International Monetary Fund will begin its Spring Meetings in conjunction with the World Bank in Washington DC. The meetings will begin in earnest on April 11th, with Press briefings starting on April 10th. G20 News will be reporting and tweeting from the meetings.

– By Julien David – Reporting from the UN

G20, IMF