B20 calls for freer movement of jobs, trade to boost growth

Business leaders from the G20 economies today called for job creation and freer movement of jobs and trade across borders to boost global economic growth by 2 per cent in the next five years.
Over 350 global business leaders will meet in Sydney this week to discuss, finalise and prioritise recommendations ahead of the G20 summit in Brisbane in November.
The B20 over the next two days will have the opportunity to discuss G20 priority areas including energy security, food security and the digital economy.
Steve Sargent, the chairman of the B20 Human Capital Taskforce, says that "fundamentally" economic growth must be accompanied by growth in jobs.

"We are seeing larger mismatches of labour supply and labour demand, requiring the ability of skills and labour to move freely across borders," Sargent told reporters.
The summit also comes ahead of the Saturday meeting of G20 trade ministers who are likely to attend parts of the meet.

It will have sessions to explore global investment opportunities, the role of business in shaping public policy and international trade.
The aim of the summit is to increase global growth by two per cent in five years, a goal that has been at the heart of the Australian agenda for its G20 presidency.

Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers chief Richard Goyder, who is leading the B20, was quoted by media here as saying that free trade will also be a priority at the B20. It is one of Australia's greatest strengths, he said.
"One of the reasons that Australia has had over a long period of time strong economic growth is that we are a trading country and a relatively open trading country.
"And I think we can demonstrate to others the benefit of that and that is why trade is really important that the G20 leaders make some tangible, agree to some tangible, policy outcomes on trade," Goyder said.

He said the B20 was "the most significant gathering of business leaders in Australia ever" and hoped its recommendations would contribute to global economic growth and job creation.
"We would contend that the policies we will be discussing this week and recommending on Friday will meet and in some cases exceed that goal," he said.
Structural flexibility, free movement across borders, consistent and effective regulation, and integrity and credibility in commerce are the four themes for recommendations.