Responsible Business Forum: Dialogue on the Future of Sustainable Development

The event brought together over 150 representatives of business, government agencies, and UN agencies. The business breakfast and panel discussion featured speeches by the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, Rasul Baghirov; Deputy Minister of Economy, Andrei Kartun; a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus; the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Belarusbank; and heads of the national UN Global Compact Networks from Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, Rasul Baghirov, noted the significant progress Belarus has made in implementing the Sustainable Development Agenda and highlighted the important role of business in achieving the remaining 20% of the SDGs by 2030. He welcomed the participation of the heads of the national Global Compact Networks from Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan in the event and emphasized the importance of exchanging experiences and best practices for ESG transformations. He noted the high potential for strengthening cooperation and interaction among responsible businesses at the regional level. By promoting the ESG agenda and implementing sustainability principles in business processes, businesses not only strengthen their competitiveness but also invest in a culture of tolerance and contribute to building a sustainable and fair society, the UN Resident Coordinator shared.

Deputy Minister of Economy Andrei Kartun emphasized that ESG approaches are an integral tool for achieving sustainability in the face of global challenges. "In today's turbulent world, the corporate sector is obliged to move towards sustainable development in order to remain competitive and stable," he noted. The Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of awareness and training for responsible business. In his opinion, the creation of national educational standards in the field of ESG can become a catalyst for change.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus expressed interest in strengthening the role of business in the national architecture for managing the process of achieving the SDGs, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts.

Forum participants actively discussed why it is important for business to become sustainable, sharing their achievements in ESG transformation during the plenary sessions. More than 10 companies from Belarus and Russia presented examples of creating sustainable products and services, which became a vivid demonstration of the possibilities of responsible business. The Responsible Business Forum showed that cooperation between business, the state, and international organizations opens up new prospects for integrating ESG principles, creating an inclusive economy, and promoting Agenda 2030 in Belarus.