A better world

Over the past decades we have become citizens of the world shaped by its diversity, unique experiences and captivating cultures. It’s been reinforced by the emancipation of the digital world.

At the same time, we have witnessed the emergence of a type of globalism that too often sidelines sound business principles and forget to put the society emancipation at the centre of its principles.

One principle is to invest in the countries or regions where businesses operate. True corporate responsibility means giving back to society: investing in people, creating local jobs, and supporting the institutions that sustain communities. Doing business without investing locally in people and job creation is not genuine investment; it is a short‑term approach with repercussions that extend well beyond the economy arena, opening the door of political discord and eroding social cohesion.

This growing and convenient model that has been adopted by quite a few big companies is to reap profit while minimizing local investment — a method that effectively transfers wealth away from one country or region rather than promoting growth. This model serves the interests of a few stakeholders without generating lasting local development. It produces returns that benefit outsiders but fail to contribute to local emancipation, skills development, or social resilience.

Now is the time to stand up against such practices and to reaffirm the principle that the emancipation of people and societies is an integral part of the strategy where enterprises choose to do business and generate revenue. Some nations have already adopted policies in this spirit: China has applied rules that tie investment to local development outcomes. The European Union is moving in a similar direction, as shown by a recent proposal that would require foreign firms to invest in key EU sectors to guarantee job creation within the bloc.

Such measures reflect a shift toward holding investors accountable for contributing to local economies and social progress rather than merely extracting value. It’s time to build a better world, a lasting one.