The G20 Summit and The Power of Print

Categorised in: Blog

You’ve watched the headlines, followed the hashtags, maybe even streamed a live session or two – but have you ever stopped to think about the printed material behind the scenes of a G20 Summit?

Delegates don’t walk into critical sessions with screens alone. They arrive armed with printed briefings, name cards, policy frameworks, identity credentials, floor plans, ballots and official statements. In an era flooded with digital noise, print remains the quiet backbone of serious communication.

We get it—because at Uniprint, we’ve spent nearly a century producing materials that must be accurate, secure and trusted. And when the world converges on South Africa this November, print will still play its part.

Print Enables Clarity in Complexity

Global summits like the G20 are not just press-friendly photo ops. They’re complex events with hundreds of stakeholders, each managing fast-moving agendas and sensitive materials. Secure print solutions, from policy documents to batch-kitted ID cards, are essential to maintaining clarity in that controlled chaos.

Our experience has shown us that high-pressure decision-making environments need physical reference points. Print delivers just that: certainty in hand, even when Wi-Fi drops or inboxes flood.

Trust Starts With Tangibility

As discussions unfold on climate change, economic policy and digital cooperation, so too does the need for trust. And trust often begins with what can be held, verified and seen.

In fact, scientific studies confirm that physical materials are easier to comprehend and recall than digital ones. A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that print readers have better text comprehension compared to those reading digitally.

For this reason, G20 hosts and attending nations rely on secure printed outputs to transmit key policies, formal documents and briefing notes. Without a doubt, print remains the unskippable layer of diplomacy.

Secure Print Supports Good Governance

At Uniprint, we specialise in transactional documents, ballots, identity materials and secure registration systems. In other words, we’re the behind-the-scenes mechanics who steer effective operations in governance – during summits and well beyond.

As African governments digitise services, they still depend on physical forms and identity print solutions to bridge gaps, authenticate processes, and ensure access. The same applies at summits: you can’t run a secure accreditation system or voting process without printed components.

And that’s what makes print indispensable – not just for optics, but for outcomes.

A Tangible Legacy of Global Leadership

When the cameras switch off and the delegates go home, what’s left behind? Printed commitments. Signed communiqués. Clear documentation. These aren’t ephemeral tweets; they’re part of a historical record.

As we reflect on what it means to host the G20, we’re reminded that print isn’t going anywhere. It’s evolving, yes, but it is still essential to how we organise, inform and act.

If this topic resonates, we also invite you to read our related blog, Uniprint Global Supports a Successful G20 Summit in South Africa, where we discuss the long-term economic benefits of hosting high-level international events.

Secure your print needs with Uniprint—trusted by global leaders.

FAQs & Answers 

1: Why is print still important for the G20 Summit?
A1: Print ensures clarity, trust, and secure information exchange, supporting critical sessions with tangible, reliable materials.

2: What printed materials are used at a G20 Summit?
A2: Delegates use printed briefings, ID cards, ballots, name cards, floor plans, and formal policy documents for accuracy and trust.

3: How does secure print enable good governance?
A3: Secure print solutions safeguard voting, accreditation, and identity materials, helping governments manage sensitive information.

4: Does printed material improve understanding?
A4: Yes, studies show print readers have better text comprehension than digital readers, making printed documents vital for summits.

5: How does Uniprint support international summits?
A5: Uniprint produces secure transactional documents, ballots, identity credentials, and registration systems trusted by global leaders.

6: What is the role of print in a digital world?
A6: Print complements digital systems by providing tangible, verifiable information that builds trust, even in complex events.

7: Why do governments still use physical identity print solutions?
A7: Printed IDs bridge gaps in digital systems, authenticate services, and ensure fair access, especially in high-level governance.

8: What legacy does print leave after a summit?
A8: Print creates a lasting record of commitments, agreements, and signed documents that form part of the historical record.