United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that business leaders have an important role in addressing numerous global issues that the U.N. seeks to resolve.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN Global Compact Network Korea on Wednesday Ban said strengthening corporate social responsibility and ethics are unavoidable duties imposed by the current times.

The UN Secretary General asked for much participation by Korean businesses. He said UN Global Compact plans to increase the number of member companies to some 20-thousand by 2020.

The UN organization is a voluntary initiative seeking sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. Launched by the U.N. in 2000, it currently has 77-hundred companies and organizations from 130 nations.