Britain will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2027, with ministers positioning the event to push stable growth, fair trade and investment. The confirmation, made during South Africa’s G20 summit, signals a year of economic diplomacy, according to HM Government.

For investors, the G20 matters because it accounts for around 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade and about two-thirds of the world’s population. Membership spans 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union. These economies already dominate Britain’s commercial links: 17 of the UK’s top 20 export markets and 18 of the top 20 FDI sources sit around the G20 table, according to government data.

Officials say the 2027 summit can translate diplomatic exposure into real outcomes across the regions. Over the past three years, G20 partners have brought more than 3,800 investment projects into the UK, creating almost 200,000 jobs, according to official figures. Keeping that momentum would support local payrolls as much as headline GDP.

The corporate stream is already visible. Shinhan, South Korea’s second-largest bank, plans to invest £2bn over five years across energy, digital assets, infrastructure and UK financial services. Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation has said it can facilitate up to £7.5bn for UK infrastructure and clean-energy projects by 2035. Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest baking company, is expanding its footprint in Rotherham.

Those examples point to a clear trio of opportunity areas: grids and storage, transport links and advanced manufacturing. For SMEs, the value sits in supply-chain roles on large projects-from components and maintenance to data and cybersecurity. The period ahead is about preparing bids, compliance and finance so proposals are execution-ready.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the announcement through a domestic lens, arguing that international work should produce good jobs and wider opportunity at home. The pitch is continuity: use close partners and multilateral forums to lower uncertainty and support investment decisions.

The G20 leaders’ format emerged from the 2008 financial crisis. At the London Summit in 2009, chaired by Gordon Brown, countries pledged more than $1 trillion to bolster the global economy. That coordination is widely credited with easing market stress and helping avert a deeper downturn.

Looking to 2027, the UK says it will keep the group focused on growth, fair trade and investment. Turning that into wins typically means quicker approvals for cross-border projects, clearer digital-finance rules and credible pathways for climate and energy funding. Those are the levers investors will watch.

For CFOs and regional leaders, the practical next steps are simple: map exposure to G20 markets, refresh investment cases in energy and infrastructure, and line up financing options ahead of procurement cycles. Our view is that the summit will only drive outcomes if firms arrive with proposals that can move quickly once attention turns to delivery.