Key conclusions
Sanctions provoke food crisis
“Unprecedented sanctions introduced against the Russian Federation have further complicated the situation and increased the risk of a food crisis. Should it happen, it could hinder the economic growth and erase all the efforts to bridge inequality – something B20 has been working on for years,” Svetlana Lukash, Deputy Head, Expert Department of the President of the Russian Federation; Russian G20 Sherpa.
“We see the conversation focus shift and questions of security – both food and energy – as well as poverty prevention inevitably becomes front and centre,” Sergey Tverdokhleb, General Director, MCC EuroChem; Member of the Board of Directors, SUEK.
Business requires both support and dialogue on the international level
“Business needs support on the global scale, productive international dialogue to create adaptive yet stable resolution mechanisms that prioritize people and society,” Anastasia Mikhailova, Director of the Сommunications Directorate, Cherkizovo Group.
“Regardless of what the political situation is – business needs to stay out of it. Business needs to grow,” Zhumabek Zhanykulov, Chairman of the Presidium, Association of Legal Entities in the Form of Association National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
“We want money to travel freely and we want people to make all sorts of transactions using the technology that already exists. We do not want transport corridors to be bottle necks where one has to overcome bureaucracy and sanctions,” Danil Ibraev, Chairman of the Presidium - President, EAEU Business Council; Chairman of the Board, NP “Eurasian Center for Integration Research and Communications”.
PROBLEMS
Food prices go up and life quality goes down
“Food crisis matters a great deal. Basic nutriment prices are record high, and even though their growth has halted lately, the problem of famine and food prices still tops the agenda of many countries. For poorer states that import most of the nutrients it is particularly important. These problems require coordinated actions by world’s leading countries,” Alexander Shokhin, President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
“Food security is a major issue. <…> Over 300 million people cannot access basic nutrients, not to mention good and healthy food. Geopolitics are not helping it either. We see what is happening to prices for fuel, meat, and oil. This deepens the problem, and we cannot see a way out right now,”
Anastasia Mikhailova, Director of the Сommunications Directorate, Cherkizovo Group.
“It is worse right now than it was in 2008 when the leadership of the group of twenty was formed. Global economy is on the low after the pandemic, inflation is rising all over the world, added value chains are broken – including production ones, logistical, transport. And this is happening against global climate change and energy markets’ transformation. <…> On top of that there are problems of mounting debt in both the poorest and the richest economies, which leads to further degradation of the quality of life,” Svetlana Lukash, Deputy Head, Expert Department of the President of the Russian Federation; Russian G20 Sherpa.
SOLUTIONS
There is a need for joint solutions, as well as interaction between business and government on a global scale
“We need vigorous dialogue between business and independent international organizations, like B20, because they unite multiple producing countries. We need to make decisions for the benefit of society and people, that reach outside of politics,” Anastasia Mikhailova, Director of the Сommunications Directorate, Cherkizovo Group.
“We should optimize fundamental guarantees of goodwill and transparency through working together with business and government,” Andrey Bugrov, Member of the Board, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Corporate Relations, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; Member, B20 Integrity and Compliance Task Force.
“Just recently we discussed fostering the role of emerging markets with BRICS playing the lead role. <…> We discussed possible financial conference within the upcoming chairmanship of India in 2023. We discussed introduction of BRICS-Pay with the interested states – the list also included Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, and Argentina. Russian business circles have a voice and a meaningful agenda on the international platforms,” Dmitry Pristanskov, State Secretary – Vice-President, Norilsk Nickel; Member, B20 Finance and Infrastructure Task Force.
B20 dialogue can restore global economy
“We see this group as a leading international forum on trade and economic cooperation. Taking part in the group is a priority for us and we share the unification agenda,” Dmitry Birichevsky, Head of Economic Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Currently, we are facing a geopolitical crisis. We are witnessing a wave of sanctions that worsen the economic situation. Despite grim forecasts, the Indonesian chairmanship is trying to inspire everyone by offering the idea of reconstruction on a strong foundation. <…> We are going to take part in solving these tasks to count on economic recuperation all over the world,” Jose Antonio Morato Tavares, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia in the Russian Federation.
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