"Our Millennium Goals remain achievable - so long as we help the poorest nations break free of the traps that ensnare them," said Ban during opening remarks at the General Assembly last month.

Among the resources needed to combat poverty, "developing adequate infrastructure for transport, energy, water and health services" is necessary, Ban said. This effort "requires investments, goods and expertise that cannot be provided by the public sector alone."

In addition to billions of dollars in annual procurement by UN humanitarian relief and peacekeeping activities, the UN's relationship with the business community has become increasingly important in terms of promoting good governance, rule of law, and international standards that create a climate for business to prosper.

Ban has emphasized the importance of transparency and trust in this process, and noted that through the UN Global Compact, the UN is working with business, governments and civil society to "advance corporate responsibility, thereby establishing an atmosphere of accountability and trust that allows for more collaborative solution-finding."

The UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate citizenship initiative, is a framework for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.