In recent years, perceptions have changed fundamentally. These days, the UN, its agencies and other key intergovernmental organizations prefer to cooperate with business in pursuit of common goals rather than confront it. The crucial role of business in economic growth, wealth creation, raising living standards, providing employment, protecting the environment, and the spread of technology is acknowledged by the UN and the overwhelming majority of its member governments. As Mr Annan has said, the goals of the United Nations and business can be mutually supportive. As a direct consequence of the New York meeting, ICC called the Geneva Business Dialogue last September, bringing together business leaders and the heads of the United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations to debate the impact of globalization on the world economy.
Governments are the main rule-setters.