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The B20 members handed over the business community’s recommendations to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the closing session of the Business 20 (B20) summit, a key event of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Presidency in the B20.
The B20 recommendations for the G20 leaders set forth the business community vision for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building Society 5.0. The Society 5.0 concept, put forward by Japan’s presidency, implies that a comprehensive digitalization will profoundly transform all aspects of life in society, business and state. Thus, digitalization is integrated into the B20 recommendations across all areas of cooperation. The recommendations include such issues as fighting trade and investment protectionism; creating sustainable infrastructure and development of ecological policy at the national and international levels; enhancing transparency and responsible business conduct at all levels; the future labour and healthcare markets with due regard of the digital technologies impact, as well as other issues relevant to the business community.
The CEOs of major international companies, the G20 business associations, Japan’s governmental bodies and the key international organizations, including the International Organization of Employers (IOE), the Business Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and others discussed policy priorities aimed at building Society 5.0.
The Russian delegation was headed by President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) Alexander Shokhin, and included David Yakobashvili, President of Orion Heritage and member of the RSPP Bureau, representatives of Rusal, FosAgro and several other RSPP member companies. Alexander Shokhin spoke in the session ‘Businesses for All: Realising Society 5.0 for SDGs.’ He particularly emphasized that the rising geopolitical tensions, escalating trade and investment protectionist measures put implementation of the SDGs and creating of Society 5.0 at risk. In this context, Alexander Shokhin expressed hope the G20 will comply with the Buenos Aires commitment to support the necessary reform and improve the functioning of the WTO; reaffirm its long-standing commitment to standstill and rollback on protectionist measures; would agree on collective actions for establishing infrastructure as an asset class. In conclusion, Dr. A. Shokhin invited the B20 summit participants to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).