Federal Chancellor Scholz meets the heads of International Organisations
“Joint work based on fair rules is more important than ever”
November 21st, 2023
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz met the heads of leading International Organisations. As they did last year, the ILO, the IMF, the OECD, the World Bank and the WTO have accepted the invitation of the Federal Chancellor to Berlin to discuss important global issues.
As a special guest the African Development Bank (AfDB) has also been invited to join the meeting to feed in the African perspective following the G20 Compact with Africa Conference held on 20 November in Berlin.Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, praised the work of the International Organisations:“In light of the multiple global challenges, cooperation and joint work based on fair rules is more important than ever. The International Organisations are key players when it comes to preserving and strengthening an international global rules-based order, in particular regarding the international economic and financial system. They can help us to foster smart globalisation in which all countries have a fair chance for sustainable development. Germany wants to contribute to this agenda by enhancing global trade, improving economic resilience and assisting the reform of the international financial architecture, as well as strengthening the role of the International Organisations – we need the International Organisations to find multilateral solutions for global challenges.”
The Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo:“Multiple crises have fuelled an uneven, uncertain employment outlook. We are seeing growing inequalities in labour markets, sluggish employment growth, constraints on labour supply in some regions and sectors, with skills shortages or mismatches in others. These factors are hindering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.We need a recommitment to decent work and social justice, including safe workplaces, higher wages, investment in training and social protection and representation at work. This would draw more workers back into the labour market, while building stronger, more resilient economies that create jobs and inclusive growth, fuelling a virtuous cycle of shared prosperity.
”The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, emphasized: “The world economy has proven resilient to recent shocks, but the recovery remains slow and uneven, with growing divergence between countries. We need sound macroeconomic fundamentals, with little room for policy errors. While there has been progress in the fight against inflation, central banks need to remain vigilant and communicate clearly. Fiscal policymakers should rebuild buffers for future shocks. And we need structural reforms to enhance labour productivity and safely tap into the benefits of new technologies. In a more shock-prone world, we need international cooperation more than ever, with open and fair global trade systems, support for vulnerable countries, and collaboration on the green and digital transformations.”
The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, said: “Climate change is a shared global challenge which can only be tackled effectively through more effective global cooperation. The Climate Club, initiated by Germany during its G7 Presidency last year, will help accelerate and deepen decarbonisation efforts around the world, in particular of energy-intensive industries, in a globally better coordinated way. More and more countries are joining the Climate Club. Together with the International Energy Agency as joint hosts of the Climate Club’s interim secretariat we are looking forward to the official launch of our work program at COP28. The OECD’s Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches, designed to help optimise the global impact of emissions reduction efforts around the world through better data and information sharing, evidence-based mutual learning and inclusive multilateral dialogue, will complement and contribute to the important work of the Climate Club.”
The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, made it clear: “Profound forces are testing our ambition in the fight against poverty—hunger, war, the climate emergency. To improve lives at a time of uncertainty, we need to reimagine partnerships and drive for change. Our capacity to work with Germany and other development partners in the spirit of common cause is a source of strength. Together, we can coordinate global action, catalyse change, and multiply impact.”
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, emphasised: “Trade policy and the WTO are relevant for addressing virtually every challenge we are set to discuss today – managing inflation; providing global public goods cost-effectively; creating better jobs; enabling climate mitigation and adaptation while driving down the cost of decarbonisation; and promoting sustainable development across the African continent. An increasingly multipolar world economy requires strong and effective multilateral trade governance. WTO members demonstrated last year that they can bridge geopolitical differences to deliver results that benefit people and the planet. Governments must continue to deliver results at the WTO, at our Thirteenth Ministerial Conference next February, and in the years ahead.”
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, said: “I commend Chancellor Olaf Scholz for having convened the Compact with Africa Conference. The African Development Bank remains fully committed to the success of this initiative, especially through its focus on promoting private sector development in Africa. Tackling climate change, Africa’s infrastructure gap, as well as unlocking industrial manufacturing capacities requires attracting private sector financing at scale. I look forward to strengthening our strategic partnership with Germany in our drive to achieve faster economic growth and prosperity for Africa.”
