Ahead of a virtual G20 Summit this week, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO is calling on G20 leaders for ramped up international coordination in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a letter published in today’s edition of the Financial Times, Mr Denton calls on G20 heads of state and government to put past squabbles aside and agree on a comprehensive action plan to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Writing on behalf of over 45 million companies in more than 100 countries in his role as ICC Secretary General, Mr Denton calls for commitments to ensure infection control products and medicines reach where they are most needed, G20 agreement to significantly scale financial assistance to help the world’s poorest countries, and a pledge by G20 leaders to collaborate to do whatever is takes to stabilise markets, restore confidence and safeguard jobs.

Representing two-thirds of the world’s population, over 80% of global GDP and over 70% of international trade, the G20 has a uniquely important role to play in stemming the growing human and economic costs of the current crisis.

Having called for a virtual meeting of G20 leaders, ICC has welcomed this week’s Summit as an opportunity not to be missed. Earlier this week, ICC joined forces with the World Health Organization and the Business 20 to publish an open letter to the G20 calling for agreement on health and economic interventions in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Read the full letter by John W.H Denton AO on the Financial Times website.

Read more on ICC’s response to COVID-19