On April 26, 2020, the group of 20 (G20) launched “Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator”, an international initiative to accelerate development, production, and access to health tools needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- The G20 is working towards reinforcing global cooperation on all fronts, and most importantly, on closing the immediate health financing gap.
- Already the group is working hard to bridge approximately $8 billion funding gap to battle the pandemic. Earlier, Saudi Arabia, as the Chair of the G20 in 2020, pledged USD 500 million to support global efforts to tackle this disastrous outbreak.
What is ACT Accelerator?
Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator’ initiative will be a global platform for action to enhance connections and leverage inter-dependencies for collective partnership, problem-solving, mobilising and guiding investments, and driving equitable access for new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
About G20 or Group of Twenty:
Members– Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), and European Union (EU). Spain is a permanent guest invitee to the G20 meetings.
Current Presidency– Saudi Arabia
2020 G20 Presidency theme– Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All
Chairman– Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2020)
