Business elite must act to help oppressed

Many people are asking me why I agreed to attend the World Economic Forum this year. Some even seem to think that by doing so I align myself with the glitterati and the global elite, turning my back on the downtrodden masses who - in these people's eyes - are the victims of globalisation.

If anything, the opposite is true. I see the forum as an opportunity to address that global elite on behalf of those downtrodden masses: on behalf, especially, of the well over one billion people in today's world who are living without enough food to eat, without safe water to drink, without primary schooling or healthcare for their children.

Personally, I do not believe those people are victims of globalisation. Their problem is not that they are included in the global market but, in most cases, that they are excluded from it.

But it is up to the global elite - to business and political leaders from the more fortunate countries - to prove that perception wrong, with actions that translate into concrete results for the downtrodden.

It is not enough to say, though it is true, that without business the poor would have no hope of escaping their poverty. Too many of them have no hope as it is. They need to be shown, by tangible examples making a difference to their own lives, that economics, properly applied, and profits, wisely invested, can bring social benefits within reach not only for the few but also for the many, and eventually for all.

Many business leaders still think these are problems for governments to solve and that business should concern itself only with the bottom line. But most of them understand that in the long run, the bottom line depends on economic and social conditions, as well as political stability. And increasing numbers are realising that they do not have to wait for governments to do the right thing - indeed, that they cannot afford to. In many cases, governments only find the courage and resources to do the right thing when business takes the lead.

Sometimes, companies can make a massive difference with really small investments. Take the case of the world's salt manufacturers. Working with the United Nations, they have made sure that all salt manufactured for human consumption contains iodine. The result is that every year, more than 90 million newborn children are protected against iodine deficiency, and thus against a major cause of mental retardation.

We need many more examples like that - examples of companies helping to mobilise global science and technology to tackle the interlocking crises of hunger, disease, environmental degradation and conflict that are holding back the developing world.

It is true that, for most such initiatives to succeed, business needs enlightened partners in government. But it need not wait passively for them to appear. In many countries, the voice of business leaders plays a very important role in moulding the climate of opinion in which governments take their decisions.

They are the ones who can make the most persuasive case for opening the markets of rich countries to labour-intensive products from poor ones, and for an end to farm export subsidies that make it impossible for farmers in poor countries to compete.

And they are the ones who, as leading taxpayers, can argue most persuasively for debt relief and official assistance to developing countries, as well as a chance for those countries to make their voice heard when decisions affecting the world economy are being discussed.

All these things are essential if today's poor countries are to grow and prosper. Of course, they need to get their own houses in order so that they can mobilise domestic resources and attract and benefit from private foreign investment.

But they must be given a fair chance to export their products, and many of them need financial and technical help before they can take advantage of market opportunities.

Next month, at the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development, political and business leaders will have the chance to show that they intend to make sure globalisation offers the poor a real chance to escape from poverty.

They can strike a truly decisive blow against the forces of envy, despair and terror by sending out a clear message of solidarity, respect and - above all - hope.

The writer is secretary general of the United Nations