Group of 15
Members of G-15 [1]
Formation	1989 1990 (Summit)
Purpose/focus	Act as a catalyst for greater cooperation between leading developing countries.[2]
Membership	18  Algeria  Argentina  Brazil  Chile  Egypt  India  Indonesia  Iran  Jamaica  Kenya  Malaysia  Mexico  Nigeria  Peru  Senegal  Sri Lanka  Venezuela  Zimbabwe
G-15 Chair	Sri Lanka (2010-2012)
Website	www.g15.org

The Group of 15 (G-15)^[1] was established at the Ninth Non-Aligned Movement Summit Meeting in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in September 1989.

This informal forum was set up to foster cooperation and provide input for other international groups, such as the World Trade Organization and the Group of Eight. It is composed of countries from North America, South America, Africa, and Asia with a common goal of enhanced growth and prosperity. The G15 focuses on cooperation among developing countries in the areas of investment, trade, and technology. The membership of the G15 has expanded to 17 countries, but the name has remained unchanged.^[3] Chile, Iran and Kenya have joined since the start and Yugoslavia is no longer part of the group. Recently, former member-state Peru decided to leave the group of 15. ^[4]

Structure and activities[link]

Some of the objectives of the G-15 are:

• To harness the considerable potential for greater and mutually beneficial cooperation among developing countries
• To conduct a regular review of the impact of the world situation and of the state of international economic relations on developing countries
• To serve as a forum for regular consultations among developing countries with a view to coordinating policies and actions
• To identify and implement new and concrete schemes for South-South cooperation and mobilize wider support for them
• To pursue a more positive and productive North-South dialogue and to find new ways of dealing with problems in a cooperative, constructive and mutually supportive manner.^[5]

By design, the G-15 has avoided establishing an administrative structure like those for international organizations, such as the United Nations or the World Bank; but the G-15 does have a Technical Support Facility (TSF) located in Geneva. The TSF functions under the direction of the Chairman for the current year. The TSF provides necessary support for the activities of the G-15 and for its objectives.^[6] Other organs and functions of the G-15 include:

• Summit of Heads of State and Government — The G-15's summit is organized biennially, with the venue being rotated among the three developing regions of the G-15 membership.^[6]
• Annual meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs — G-15 Ministers of Foreign Affairs typically meet once a year to coordinate group activities and to prepare for the nest summit of G-15 leaders.^[6]
• Steering Committee (Troika) — A Steering Committee or Troika is composed of three Foreign Ministers, one from the preceding summit host country, the present host country and the anticipated next host countries. These three are responsible for oversight and coordination.^[6]
• Personal Representatives of Heads of State and Government — Each member country is represented by Personal Representatives of Heads of State and Government who meet regularly in Geneva.^[6]

In addition, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Services (FCCIS) is a private sector forum of G-15 member countries. The purpose of the FCCIS is to coordinate and maximize efforts which promote business, economic development and joint investment in G-15 nations.^[6]

In 2010, the chairmanship of the G-15 was accepted by Sri Lanka at the conclusion of the 14th G-15 summit in Tehran.^[7]

Members countries and organizations[link]

Region	Member	Leader		Foreign Minister		Population
Africa	Algeria	President	Abdelaziz Bouteflika	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Mourad Medelci	34,895,000
	Egypt	President	Mohamed Hussein Tantawi	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Nabil Elaraby	77,420,000
	Kenya	President	Mwai Kibaki	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Moses Wetangula	39,003,000
	Nigeria	President	Goodluck Jonathan	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Henry Odein Ajumogobia	155,215,000
	Senegal	President	Abdoulaye Wade	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Madické Niang	13,712,000
	Zimbabwe	President	Robert Mugabe	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Samuel Mumbengegwi	12,521,000
Latin America and the Caribbean	Argentina	President	Cristina Fernández de Kirchner	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship	Hector Timerman	40,134,000
	Brazil	President	Dilma Rousseff	Minister of External Relations	Antonio Patriota	192,859,000
	Chile	President	Sebastián Piñera	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Alfredo Moreno	17,063,000
	Jamaica	Prime Minister	Andrew Holness	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Kenneth Baugh	2,826,000
	Mexico	President	Felipe Calderón	Secretary of Foreign Affairs	Patricia Espinosa	111,212,000
	Venezuela	President	Hugo Chávez	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Nicolás Maduro	26,815,000
Asia	India	Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh	Minister of External Affairs	S. M. Krishna	1,180,251,000
	Indonesia	President	Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Marty Natalegawa	231,370,000
	Iran	President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Manouchehr Mottaki	74,196,000
	Malaysia	Prime Minister	Najib Tun Razak	Minister of Foreign Affairs	Anifah Aman	28,310,000
	Sri Lanka	President	Mahinda Rajapaksa	Minister of Foreign Affairs	G. L. Peiris	20,238,000

G-15 Summits[link]

See also[link]

• Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP)

Notes[link]