Business is a key player in this process [of achieving sustainable development goals, – Ed.]. The government cannot singlehandedly – without business’s involvement – resolve issues of poverty and destitution, infant mortality and malnutrition — Andreas Schaal, Director of Global Relations Secretariat, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) .

Business plays an important role in forming every country’s economy. Unfortunately, many politicians in many countries mistrust business. They do not understand and are not aware of the contribution business makes to their countries’ economic development. <…> Business should help the governments see the sustainability and the stability it brings to the economy — Hemant Kanoria, Chairman, Managing Director, Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited .

I would like to highlight digitalization and technological transformation as crucial factors of sustainable development. On the one hand, introduction of state-of-the-art technologies and innovations can take productivity to a whole new level, while it is now stagnating in many countries. On the other hand, the countries that neglect technological upgrade will lose the opportunity to maintain and raise productivity in the future — Alexander Shokhin, President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).

Today, we are entering stage five – the creative society [Society 5.0 is a development strategy based on the use of digital technology, – Ed.] Combination of digital transformation and imagination and creativity in all sorts of people will make resolving the toughest social issues possible and will help create new values. We try to achieve the UN sustainable development goals through bringing Society 5.0 to life — Teruo Asada, Chair, Japan-Russia Business Cooperation Committee, Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) .

I wanted to talk about risks that cause the most concerns for doing business. They come from geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, problems with critical infrastructure, fiscal and financial crises, pricing shocks on energy markets and volatility of those markets. All of it stands in the way of economic growth — Alexander Shokhin, President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).

Three recommendations for the B20. G20 should carry on emphasizing the sustainability agenda and never leave anyone behind. <…> These are the efforts of private companies that aim to reach these goals [of sustainable development, – Ed.] — Irina Bokova, Independent Director, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee, PhosAgro; Director General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO (2009-2017) .

What’s required today are the polices and proper conditions that can help people adapt to the everchanging world. B20 and G20 in this regard should demonstrate that digital economy, transformation of labor market, industry, all spheres of out life – it is going to bring positive change and make the world more sustainable and inclusive rather than lead to job loss or bring about other risks for the people — Svetlana Lukash, Russian G20 Sherpa.

We call upon the G20 participants to take tangible measures in policies. <…> Digital transformation is a necessary element to achieve the Society 5.0 goals. B20 calls upon G20 to promote international cooperation to create a security system that would be based on risk analysis and would protect people’s privacy by different means, including free data exchange — Teruo Asada, Chair, Japan-Russia Business Cooperation Committee, Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) .

Three recommendations for the B20. First, it needs to underscore the importance of big enterprises and SME in terms of job creation. Second, the state needs to do everything in its power to provide physical infrastructure to start companies. I am talking about Internet access. Education level is of critical importance, free access to quality education — Renate Hornung-Draus, Vice President, International Organization of Employers (IOE); Managing Director, Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) .

I would like to point out three important aspects where the science and business together could invest into sustainable development. First: sustainable development is only possible if there is positive feedback between science and market. Second: we need to learn to recognize the challenges different countries face and react to them together. The role of science here is huge. These challenges have to be recognized scientifically. Third: education. If we talk about Society 5.0. a creative society, then we need to think how we are going to train the people for it — Alexander Sergeev, President, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Constructing and preserving a multipolar, technologically interconnected, non-fragmented world that is getting rid of barriers – it is a very important task. An image that Society 5.0 contains and fully corresponds with the vision of the government is currently threatened — Maxim Akimov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

Above all we need to make the participation of business people, business community, multisided global management institutions more efficient. Secondly, we need to develop national mechanism of dialogue between business and government — Alexander Shokhin, President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).