The NRB discussed strategies and the role of responsible business

On February 12, 2025, the Social Forum: "Social Priorities in the Development of Responsible Business - Contribution to Achieving National Goals" was held as part of the Russian Business Week.

The forum was attended by more than 320 representatives of companies, employers' associations, heads of federal and regional authorities, trade unions, the State Duma, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly, the Accounts Chamber, the Global Compact National Network Association and others.

The forum discussed social strategies of business and sustainability of companies, the role of responsible business in achieving national development goals and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, effective partnerships between business and government to create favorable living conditions and sustainable development of territories, tools for assessing the contribution of companies to the solution of tasks of national projects, incentives, support for responsible companies and responsible investments/investors, the importance of reporting on sustainable development in this context, and others.

At the opening of the Social Forum, Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), emphasized the significant role of social priorities in the implementation of business strategies, in ensuring its sustainability in response to growing challenges.

It was emphasized that "in the next decade, virtually all national goals, as well as business strategies, will be linked to the development of human potential. This applies to achieving technological leadership, dynamic economic growth and development of the country's territories, increasing labor productivity and the level of well-being of citizens. There is a clear link between the economic and social aspects of sustainable development with an obvious increase in the importance of social factors. This applies to the country as a whole, to business, and to individual companies".

Responsible business recognizes this. This is evidenced by the answers received from the forum participants during the registration process. In the companies' understanding, the condition for successful competition for personnel and maintaining greater business stability on this basis was the development of human resources potential, corporate culture, team building and motivation of employees, assistance in improving their living conditions, including outside the company and working hours.

Alexander Shokhin noted the need to organize systematic work in internal and external corporate social policy, which meets the company's strategic goals and the expectations and needs of employees, while focusing on national priorities and objectives of demographic and social development.

The RSPP Collection "Business. Employees. Family", dedicated to the issues of corporate policy to support employees with family responsibilities. The materials of the compilation confirm that most large companies implement various combinations of such measures.

The discussion also focused on the need to support initiatives of responsible companies that take into account the challenges of the new times in their social strategies, introduce modern approaches and effective technologies in their action programs, and contribute to the solution of socially important tasks

RSPP attaches great importance to identifying leaders in the sustainable development agenda in order to recognize and encourage companies whose activities are based on the principles of responsible business conduct. Thus, this year the National Award "Leaders of Responsible Business" is being held for the second time; the winners will be announced on March 20 at the RSPP Congress.

The forum participants received greetings from Tatyana Golikova, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairman of the Federal Council of the Russian Federation, and Igor Shchyogolev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District.

In her welcoming speech, Tatyana Golikova noted the growth of business participation in the implementation of socially significant projects. The work done, within the framework of social national projects, has laid a solid foundation that allows to build and strengthen the system of comprehensive support for the population.

"Successful solution of the tasks requires consolidation of efforts of the state, business and the whole society," she emphasized.

The new national projects, which will determine Russia's development for the coming years, will start in 2025. They are focused on achieving national goals, according to which the preservation of the population, support for families, strengthening the health and well-being of people, and improving their living conditions are among the priorities.