Sydney - AFP
The Institute of International Finance (IIF) held "The G20 Agenda under the Australian Presidency " conference in Sydney on Thursday, ahead of the first G20 Ministerial Meetings of the year to be held this weekend. Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey gave a keynote speech to the IIF, urging the group of 20 work together to achieve macroeconomic coordination. He said boosting global growth and job creation should be top priority, calling for setting up comprehensive growth strategy to achieve the goal. "There would be value in setting out in concrete and measurable terms the objectives we are aiming for. We shouldn't talk in generalities about growth but should communicate our intentions to lift growth," Hockey said. The IIF conference will conclude on Friday, followed by the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting to be held on Saturday and Sunday. More than 500 delegates from G20 countries, invited guest nations and international organizations are expected to gather in Sydney. The meeting will focus on issues like global economy, investment and infrastructure, the growth challenge, IMF reform, financial regulation and tax.