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International conference “Business-Government Engagement for a Safe, Secure and Sustainable Growth” was held by the RSPP within the Russian Business Week on 19 March 2014. The event brought together chief executives of Russian and foreign companies as well as representatives of business associations and the Russian authorities. The participant debated recommendations on business-government engagement in the key areas of the international agenda.
In the opening address RSPP President Alexander Shokhin emphasized that the growing interconnectedness of different types of risks, and increasing vulnerability to these risks, necessitate coordination of efforts of business and governments in such policy areas as global economic growth, public and private debt, fiscal and current account imbalances, continued accumulation of trade restrictions and trade imbalances, harmful tax practices, human and economic ramifications of pandemics and expanding communicable diseases, rising exposure to environmental degradation and natural disasters, increasing inequality and persistent poverty.
Noting that the drafting of the recommendations began in the framework of the Russia’s G8 Presidency and the presidency of RSPP in the Business 8 (B8), Mr. Shokhin said that despite the change of plans regarding the Sochi G8 summit the business and government collaboration in these areas is crucial for managing multiple risks and the work must be carried on. Thus the recommendations should be finalized, with due regard to the outcomes of the conference, and discussed at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum with the authorities of Russia and partner-countries.
Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya affirmed the importance of business-government cooperation and noted the timeliness of this conference. He said that it was important that the business communities explained the risks of deterioration of international situation to their governments. He also stated that sanctions are unacceptable in the modern world, as any imprudent step can lead to negative consequences for economic relations between states.
The first session of the conference was devoted to managing risks to global economic growth and stability. Among the issues discussed were macroeconomic policy, international trade, investment, infrastructure and financial regulation. Participants affirmed the need for enhanced mechanisms to protect investors’ interests, more transparent principles of public investment which are clear for business, development of property rights, harmonization of multilateral investment standards, liberalization and promotion of international investments. Severstal CEO Aleksey Mordashov noted the importance of international trade as a driver of economic growth and underscored the need to remove trade and investment barriers. First Deputy Chairman of Vnesheconombank Andrey Sapelin said that it was important for the public investment to adopt the project-based approach principles, which would allow increase investments effectiveness.
During the second session the participants discussed open governance mechanisms and their impact on business, society and individuals and took note of the necessity to increase transparency of market information, business processes and regulation. Interros Vice President Andrei Bugrov called for conclusion of an international agreement on open data and harmonization of national standards in this sphere. Director for International and Special Projects of RUSAL Sergey Chestnoy highlighted the need for increased market transparency drawing on the example of international aluminium market.
The third session was devoted to the global development agenda and well-being of people. The participants discussed food security, healthcare, innovations and their impact on international development. Vice President for Public Affairs of Summa Group Konstantin Panin underscored the necessity to use private sector’s experience in development projects, and called for more active steps to implement the Far East Grain Corridor project, as one of the key elements of the food security in Southeast Asia. Director of Legal Policy and Social Development Department at Skolkovo Foundation Aleksey Ivanov outlined three major challenges for innovative development in the world: asymmetry in technologic development across countries, infrastructure underdevelopment, and lack of international cooperation in this sphere. Within the discussion Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orion Heritage David Iakobachvili made a presentation on “Challenges and Opportunities of Cross-Border Migration” focusing on the scale of migration, correspondence of migrants’ labor force quality to economic demands, its demographic impact, migrants influence on certain industries and remittances. He also made proposals on regulation of cross-border migration at global and national levels.
During the fourth session the participants discussed the challenges of overcoming and managing risks related to natural and man-made disasters, ensuring energy and information security. Executive Director for Strategy and Government Relations of Schneider Electric Philippine de T`Serclaes emphasized the increased importance of business-government cooperation in enhancing energy resilience and efficiency. The President of All-Russian Insurance Association Igor Yurgens noted ineffectiveness of the current approaches to natural disaster risk insurance, saying that the compensations do not cover the full costs, and called for the creation of international mechanisms and standards in this sphere.
Conference program (Russian, English)
Draft recommendations
Foreword by Alexander Shokhin, RSPP President (Russian)
Materials to presentation on “Challenges and Opportunities of Cross-Border Migration” of David Iakobachvili, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Orion Heritage (Russian)