If international companies are to succeed in this environment, they have to listen, understand and argue their case with anyone at any time. They cannot deliver what they seek to achieve alone. They need wider engagement with society, including governments and NGOs. But in terms of dialogue, particularly with NGOs, the rules of engagement must be clarified. My view is that we should start by understanding our respective roles.
Companies are primarily responsible for delivering performance for their shareholders.
They can do that only if they are in touch with customers and communities. The role of governments is broader and involves striving for the common good and balancing competing demands. Companies and governments are both rule-based and this means that business can develop relationships with governments within well defined areas based on mutual advantage. NGOs are different and more varied. They exist to argue a case.