Business representatives from G20 nations and guest countries convened Thursday for the B20 Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, exploring practical solutions for sustainable development and economic stability ahead of the upcoming G20 Leaders' Summit in November.
The B20 is the body that brings together the business community from the G20 nations and gives them a forum to discuss common objectives and views.
As the G20 Leaders' Summit draws closer, different stakeholders have been promoting discussions and issuing documents to bring their positions to the negotiating table. The B20 is one of these forums, bringing together representatives from the business communities of the member nations, along with other international guests.
Themed "Inclusive Growth for a Sustainable Future", the two-day B20 Summit attracted more than 1,000 participants.
One of Brazil's key diplomatic officials in organizing the summit stated during the business event that public authorities were working to strengthen collaboration with the private sector.
"Six or seven of the ministerial declarations in different areas of the G20 specifically reference these recommendations received from civil society, particularly from the B20. This shows that efforts to improve the communication channels have been successful," said Felipe Hees, Sous Sherpa of G20 Brazil.
The recommendations laid out by the B20 focus on fostering a fair energy transition, leveraging global trade to enhance sustainability, and boosting education and training systems to meet the demands of a changing job market.
"I would say that the fundamental topics of the B20 align with the priorities of the G20. These are the major issues of today; decarbonization, digitalization, and food security," said Dan Ioschpe, chairman of B20 Brazil.
Business leaders worked to push for their recommendations to be seriously considered by G20 leaders, hoping to influence global economic policies and promote their vision of sustainable growth.
The president of Brazil's National Confederation of Industries (CNI) said their recommendations aim to foster sustainable and inclusive growth.
"We sought to focus on a few recommendations -- those with common ground -- because we need to get used to, in every activity, whether in Brazil or in the public or private sector, valuing what converges. We have a tendency to value what diverges," said Ricardo Alban, president of the CNI.
Business leaders convene for B20 Summit, exploring solutions for sustainable development
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
