By Jose Maria Figueres and - -
GENEVA, Jan 1 2004 (IPS)

In today\’s world, security and prosperity have become two sides of the same coin, writes Jose Maria Figueres, co-CEO of the World Economic Forum and former president of Costa Rica. In this article, Figueres writes that we all deserve to live and work in a secure environment. And technology has advanced to the point were if we set our minds – and hearts – to the task of effectively combating poverty, we can succeed in improving the living conditions of millions. It will of course take a determined effort by all of us to make this possible, which is why at the World Economic Forum we chose \’\’Partnering for Security and Prosperity\’\’ as the theme for our Annual Meeting 2004. I would hope we could all agree on the need for action to address the underlying causes of our problems, and this is where partnerships come in. The World Social Summit taking place in India has come a long way from its first session in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2000. From constituting an opposition to the present wave of development, it has moved to proclaiming that \’\’another world is possible\’\’. We salute this transition, and welcome even more interaction with Porto Alegre.

In today’s world, security and prosperity have become two sides of the same coin. We all deserve to live and work in a secure environment. And technology has advanced to the point were if we set our minds – and hearts – to the task of effectively combating poverty, we can succeed in improving the living conditions of millions. It will of course take a determined effort by all of us to make this possible, which is why at the World Economic Forum we chose ”Partnering for Security and Prosperity” as the theme for our Annual Meeting 2004.

Up in the Swiss mountains of Davos, global leaders representing different sectors of society will gather at our Annual Meeting to discuss, debate, and share their views on how to facilitate actions that address the imperative outlined by our theme.

Present security concerns begin with our individual safety and extend all the way to the geopolitical issues that have become so much a part of our daily lives. While some may argue that security is a precondition for prosperity, we can claim that it is in fact the lack of prosperity that causes insecurity.

On the other hand prosperity is much more than just economic growth. It goes beyond this condition to establish the basic environment necessary for people to live with dignity.

We can readily debate the wider definitions of security and prosperity, as well as other global challenges. Discussions and debates are valuable. When well structured, they help broaden understanding of issues. But I would hope we could all agree on the need for action to address the underlying causes of our problems, and this is where partnerships come in. One quick glance around our communities is sufficient to demonstrate that society is organising itself in different and innovative ways to address the challenges at hand. From social entrepreneurs to good examples of corporate social responsibility, individuals and organisations are getting deeply involved in development issues. And while we may not yet clearly recognise the shape of the emerging societal coalitions, we can be sure that they are not merely a continuation of the past. Development after all, is too important to be left in the hands of governments alone.

Partnerships will translate words into actions. At the Forum, we have created a Global Institute for Partnership and Governance to oversee the different initiatives in which the member corporations of the Forum have engaged. From the E-education Programme in Jordan to the Global Health Initiative fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, from the Green House Gas Register to the Disaster Relief Network (present in Iran), more and more companies are taking the initiative to address in the economic, social, and environmental problems that adversely affect our communities.

There are other ways of increasing action in a world that needs it so much. The World Social Summit taking place in India has come a long way from its first session in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2000. From constituting an opposition to the present wave of development, they have moved to proclaiming that ”another world is possible”. We salute this transition, and welcome even more interaction with Porto Alegre. In every one of our initiatives mentioned above, we could amplify our results by enlarging the partnerships working on them. Many of the participants in Porto Alegre have good intentions, and our initiatives can provide them with an opportunity for action.

From India to Taiwan and from the United States to Indonesia, more than half the global population will participate in elections this year. It is certainly a tremendous indication of the strengthening of democracy. From social entrepreneurs to global corporations and from Davos to Porto Alegre (in India), there is equal room for partnerships that will create prosperity. Yes, a better world is possible! (END/COPYRIGHT IPS)

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By Jose Maria Figueres and - -
DAVOS, Jan 1 2003 (IPS)

Globalisation is a double-edged tool, writes Jose Maria Figueres, managing director of the World Economic Forum and former president of Costa Rica (1994-1998). We can take advantage of it with sound national strategies designed to increase the well-being of our citizens. Or we can cross our arms and do nothing and allow globalisation to take advantage of us. Thus we have the possibility to decide and build our future, but no one will do it for us. The responsibility is ours. Globalisation is more than a simple process of economic opening and tariff reduction. Taking advantage of it requires clear policies and that at the same time reinforce macro-economic health, strengthen strategic social investment, and promote responsible use of natural resources. Convinced that business has responsibilities to society and can play a positive role in areas relating to development, the WEF supports programmes that work in this direction. Many governments and many grass roots organisations share this understanding. Today it is more important than ever to join forces and move forward. The World Economic Forum and the World Social Forum share the obligation to explore their common goals and work towards them rather than accentuate their differences.

Globalisation is a fact. We should start by acknowledging this. With continuous advances in communications technologies, the world is more and more a global village in which opposite ends of the earth can communicate in real time. Indeed, the fact that the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, are happening at the same time is itself a demonstration of this.

It is also true that globalisation is a double-edged tool. We can take advantage of it with sound national strategies designed to increase the well-being of our citizens. Or we can cross our arms and do nothing and allow globalisation to take advantage of us. We have the possibility to decide and build our future, but no one will do it for us. The responsibility is ours.

Globalisation is more than a simple process of economic opening and tariff reduction. Taking advantage of it requires clear policies and that at the same time reinforce macro-economic stability, strengthen strategic social investment, mainly in health and education, and promote responsible use of natural resources. This can be achieved only through common efforts by all social actors –business, civil society, academics, and government — who share a vision of the country they would like to have and the society they would like to construct.

As far as globalisation is concerned, it doesn’t matter if a country is small or large — in marked contrast to the situation during the Cold War. What matters now is that societies organice themselves quickly and that countries are “fast” rather than “slow” to make the changes necessary to take advantage of new opportunities.

The tenor of these observations derives in part from what I was able to achieve during my years in government. When I was president of Costa Rica, the global technology firm INTEL was seeking to set up a microprocessor plant outside of the United States. When its search began, Costa Rica was not even in consideration, yet it ended up being selected as the best choice. We worked hard to make this happen, with the active participation of all sectors of the country.

In its first year of operation in Costa Rica, INTEL exports exceeded our total exports of coffee and bananas (we are the world’s second largest banana exporter). The country then became a magnet for other high-tech companies. Work opportunities in turn reinforced the interest of new generations in pursuing higher education and careers in technology. Thus began a virtuous circle that today includes a growing export sector in software by small national companies, a high value-added product.

Did we convince INTEL to invest in Costa Rica by promising low wage workers, fiscal incentives, or environmental concessions? The opposite is true:

1. Costa Rica has the highest wages in Latin America, preferring to compete instead on the basis of higher productivity, not with “hunger salaries”.

2. The fiscal incentives it offers for investment are no greater than those any company receives in Ireland, Singapore, or Israel. It is to be hoped that globalisation will require us to harmonise taxes (raising them) to adequately finance development.

3. Costa Rica’s environmental regulation is comparable to that of developed countries. What quality global firms least desire is to produce in countries with no environmental controls, particularly in a world where consumers are ever more demanding and better informed.

Today Costa Rica plants more trees that it cuts down, sells tonnes of carbon drawn from the atmosphere , and pays small farmers for these services they provide to society. By constitutional mandate, the country invests six percent of its GDP in public education. Certainly many challenges continue to face the country, but this is the form of globalisation that we pursue.

I have worked for two years at the World Economic Forum. Convinced that business has responsibilities to society and can play a positive role in areas relating to development, the WEF supports programmes that work in this direction. Certain companies are very clear about their mission in this sense and practice it daily. Others less so. But many governments and many grass roots organisations share this understanding. After all, if development were simple, we would all be developed.

Today it is more important than ever to join forces and move forward. The World Economic Forum and the World Social Forum share the obligation to explore their common goals and work towards them rather than accentuate their differences. This is the way to do more for those who have the least, and to work towards meeting the world’s challenges. (END/COPYRIGHT IPS)

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