The event was opened by Alexander Murychev, Chairman of the FBA EAC Executive Board. He greeted the participant on behalf of the Forum organizers and emphasized that over the past years the Forum had managed to acquire its own recognizable face, to establish itself as an effective business platform, which allowed to gather over five thousand representatives of business communities from 38 countries of Europe, Asia and Africa and discuss the most topical issues of Eurasian integration.
Speaking about the special aspects of the FBA EAC Forum, Alexander Murychev noted its primary focus on the business community of Greater Eurasia. The Forum's panel sessions have long been productive platforms for the exchange of views in the professional communities, as well as for finding business partners, as the work of panel sessions has always been based on the industry principle.
Alexander Murychev thanked the official sponsors of the Forum – Chinese company SLC-Rus and PROMTEX, which not only provided their financial support, but the intellectual content of the Forum’s program. Following that, Alexander Murychev read the welcome letters to the participants of the Forum from Mger Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Timur Suleimenov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Following that, Li Shuobing, President of the FBA EAC, addressed the participants of the Forum with a welcome speech. He noted that despite the current geopolitical situation, representatives from all over Eurasia, Africa, the East and Latin America took part in the Forum, and this demonstrates, above all, the relevance of the Financial and Business Association of Euro-Asian Cooperation.
Speaking about the special aspects of the FBA EAC Forum, Alexander Murychev noted its primary focus on the business community of Greater Eurasia. The Forum's panel sessions have long been productive platforms for the exchange of views in the professional communities, as well as for finding business partners, as the work of panel sessions has always been based on the industry principle.
Alexander Murychev thanked the official sponsors of the Forum – Chinese company SLC-Rus and PROMTEX, which not only provided their financial support, but the intellectual content of the Forum’s program. Following that, Alexander Murychev read the welcome letters to the participants of the Forum from Mger Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Timur Suleimenov, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Following that, Li Shuobing, President of the FBA EAC, addressed the participants of the Forum with a welcome speech. He noted that despite the current geopolitical situation, representatives from all over Eurasia, Africa, the East and Latin America took part in the Forum, and this demonstrates, above all, the relevance of the Financial and Business Association of Euro-Asian Cooperation.
«Mutually respectful dialogue and constructive discussions that always accompany the work at our Forum prove that the mechanisms of “public diplomacy” are more in demand today than ever before. While politicians argue and “play with their muscles”, not finding an opportunity to sit down at the negotiating table, entrepreneurs, as rationally acting people capable of reaping benefit and looking for ways to multiply it, find opportunities to reach agreements and build bridges of cooperation». Li Shuobing, President of the FBA EAC
Concluding his speech, the President of the FBA EAC expressed confidence that the intellectual results of the participants' work will certainly reflect the goodwill and desire for full cooperation. «After all, only together will we be able to overcome the crises and challenges that modern life throws at international business», said Li Shuobing.
Traditionally, Alexey Gromyko, Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of RAS, moderated the plenary session. He noted the extreme relevance of the title of the Forum and regretted that «the question of how to make sure that people, countries and businesses are more connected than they are currently divided remains a burning issue».
During the plenary session, the participants discussed a wide array of issues concerning the impact that the shift of development centers to the East had on the global economy and foreign economic activity, problems of food and energy security, the urgent tasks of coupling the «One Belt, One Road» strategy and Eurasian economic integration in the new geopolitical environment, the status and prospects of the EAEU cooperation with Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Are Eurasian economies partners or competitors in the context of global technological transformation? Can partnerships in Eurasia compensate for the weakening of traditional mechanisms of multilateral cooperation? What sustainable development challenges does Eurasian partnership help address? These and many other relevant questions were raised by the participants of the plenary session during the discussion.
Thus Bakytzhan Sagintaev, Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy of Eurasian Economic Commission, told the Forum about the efforts the EEC is making to create a common economic space.
Traditionally, Alexey Gromyko, Director of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of RAS, moderated the plenary session. He noted the extreme relevance of the title of the Forum and regretted that «the question of how to make sure that people, countries and businesses are more connected than they are currently divided remains a burning issue».
During the plenary session, the participants discussed a wide array of issues concerning the impact that the shift of development centers to the East had on the global economy and foreign economic activity, problems of food and energy security, the urgent tasks of coupling the «One Belt, One Road» strategy and Eurasian economic integration in the new geopolitical environment, the status and prospects of the EAEU cooperation with Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Are Eurasian economies partners or competitors in the context of global technological transformation? Can partnerships in Eurasia compensate for the weakening of traditional mechanisms of multilateral cooperation? What sustainable development challenges does Eurasian partnership help address? These and many other relevant questions were raised by the participants of the plenary session during the discussion.
Thus Bakytzhan Sagintaev, Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy of Eurasian Economic Commission, told the Forum about the efforts the EEC is making to create a common economic space.
«In the near future the Greater Eurasian partnership will consist of separate subregional blocks based on the common interests of participants, their technological, logistical, infrastructural and other mutually beneficial proposals». Bakytzhan Sagintaev, Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy of the EEC
In the speech of Rodrigo de Lima Baena Soares, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Russian Federation, the main emphasis was placed on the theme of sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the well-being of future generations.
«The pandemic, interstate conflicts and their consequences, such as food and energy crises, are the main challenges today. «Brazil is ready to help the global community to solve these problems, as today it is one of the leaders in the production of green energy and food». Rodrigo de Lima Baena Soares, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Russian Federation.
Professor Alexander Shokhin, President of the RSPP, Doctor of Economics, spoke about the need to resume a constructive dialogue within the international community. And while the platform of the G-20 Summit in Indonesia was useful to voice the position of the Russian business community to the partners, the platform of the WTO should be used for continuing the dialogue in the field of trade and investment, despite the fact that it has lost its role as a regulator of international trade today, but, according to the President of the RSPP, will restore this status.
In conclusion, the President of the RSPP stressed the importance of the Eurasian Economic Union. Among the main areas of its activities are project cooperation, the formation of a favorable business environment within the EAEU, the development of a system of settlements in national currencies, including the use of digital currencies. Rajneesh Goenka, Founding Chairman of MSME Development Forum, Member of National Council under MSME Ministry in his speech emphasized the role of small and medium business in the economies of the world. Speaking about India, Rajneesh Goenka remarked that the attention given to development and support of small and medium sized enterprises in his country is serious but still insufficient. «I appeal to all the participants of the Forum – support the development of the small and medium business sector in your countries. Only this way we will be able to overcome the current and all future crises», he concluded.
In conclusion, the President of the RSPP stressed the importance of the Eurasian Economic Union. Among the main areas of its activities are project cooperation, the formation of a favorable business environment within the EAEU, the development of a system of settlements in national currencies, including the use of digital currencies. Rajneesh Goenka, Founding Chairman of MSME Development Forum, Member of National Council under MSME Ministry in his speech emphasized the role of small and medium business in the economies of the world. Speaking about India, Rajneesh Goenka remarked that the attention given to development and support of small and medium sized enterprises in his country is serious but still insufficient. «I appeal to all the participants of the Forum – support the development of the small and medium business sector in your countries. Only this way we will be able to overcome the current and all future crises», he concluded.
«The G20 had been created to deal effectively with economic crises and to prevent them in the future, but today it fails to cope with this task. President of the RSPP believes that there is a need to create crisis response mechanisms within the G20, which will ensure trade in essential commodities – food and medicines». Alexander Shokhin, president of the RSPP.
Rajneesh Goenka, Founding Chairman of MSME Development Forum, Member of National Council under MSME Ministry in his speech emphasized the role of small and medium business in the economies of the world. Speaking about India, Rajneesh Goenka remarked that the attention given to development and support of small and medium sized enterprises in his country is serious but still insufficient. «I appeal to all the participants of the Forum – support the development of the small and medium business sector in your countries. Only this way we will be able to overcome the current and all future crises», he concluded.
Tadzio Schilling, General Director of the Association of European Businesses, dwelled upon the problems of winding down international cooperation. According to Tadzio Schilling, de-globalization goes against the logic of economy and this trend should be changed. «International cooperation is going through difficult times. The largescale challenges facing the states and companies in Eurasia ought to be addressed in the context of reformatting traditional institutions of international trade and finance. Some of these institutions are currently in paralysis. The necessary solutions lie in the strengthening of regional integration, the convergence of national legislations and the development of new instruments of financing», stated Tadzio Schilling. He concluded by emphasizing the important role of international business associations, which are capable of steering the process of restoring old and establishing new business contacts in the right direction, ensuring the necessary dialogue between business community and state authorities at all levels.
Zhou Liqun, President of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia, in his presentation familiarized the participants with the figures reflecting the scale of cooperation between Russia and China. «The Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia incorporates more than 4 thousand Chinese companies. In 2022, amid the pandemic and sanctions, Sino-Russian relations have shown their resilience. This is especially true for trade. During the 10 months of 2022, the bilateral trade turnover increased by 33% and reached $153 billion. By the end of the year, this figure will grow to a record $180 billion trade turnover», said the President of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia. The speaker did not ignore the problems concerning logistics and bank payments. «But the main thing is that Russian business is looking to the East, and China is looking at friendly Russia», Zhou Liqun said in conclusion.
Sergey Korotkov, Director of the UNIDO Center for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation, told in his speech about the development of cooperation within the framework of business associations and country associations. In his view, the main opportunities for cooperation lie in the development of regional integration projects, such as the EAEU and the Eurasian Customs Union. China's «One Belt, One Road» initiative and BRICS+ cooperation in Central Asia not only improve the region's ability to attract foreign investment flows, but also increase competition between companies.
rease competition between companies. William Fidel Suleiman Kwende, Managing Director of Africana Infrastructure Capital, Golden Organics Global, in his speech focused on the economic potential of African countries, which can become the basis for longterm cooperation between Russia and the countries of the African continent. He noted that Russia and Africa are connected by a long friendship that goes back to the days of the Soviet Union, when the USSR provided tremendous support to African countries, helping them gain independence, develop education, industry and agriculture, train the first doctors and engineers who then built today's Africa.
Tadzio Schilling, General Director of the Association of European Businesses, dwelled upon the problems of winding down international cooperation. According to Tadzio Schilling, de-globalization goes against the logic of economy and this trend should be changed. «International cooperation is going through difficult times. The largescale challenges facing the states and companies in Eurasia ought to be addressed in the context of reformatting traditional institutions of international trade and finance. Some of these institutions are currently in paralysis. The necessary solutions lie in the strengthening of regional integration, the convergence of national legislations and the development of new instruments of financing», stated Tadzio Schilling. He concluded by emphasizing the important role of international business associations, which are capable of steering the process of restoring old and establishing new business contacts in the right direction, ensuring the necessary dialogue between business community and state authorities at all levels.
Zhou Liqun, President of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia, in his presentation familiarized the participants with the figures reflecting the scale of cooperation between Russia and China. «The Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia incorporates more than 4 thousand Chinese companies. In 2022, amid the pandemic and sanctions, Sino-Russian relations have shown their resilience. This is especially true for trade. During the 10 months of 2022, the bilateral trade turnover increased by 33% and reached $153 billion. By the end of the year, this figure will grow to a record $180 billion trade turnover», said the President of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia. The speaker did not ignore the problems concerning logistics and bank payments. «But the main thing is that Russian business is looking to the East, and China is looking at friendly Russia», Zhou Liqun said in conclusion.
Sergey Korotkov, Director of the UNIDO Center for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation, told in his speech about the development of cooperation within the framework of business associations and country associations. In his view, the main opportunities for cooperation lie in the development of regional integration projects, such as the EAEU and the Eurasian Customs Union. China's «One Belt, One Road» initiative and BRICS+ cooperation in Central Asia not only improve the region's ability to attract foreign investment flows, but also increase competition between companies.
rease competition between companies. William Fidel Suleiman Kwende, Managing Director of Africana Infrastructure Capital, Golden Organics Global, in his speech focused on the economic potential of African countries, which can become the basis for longterm cooperation between Russia and the countries of the African continent. He noted that Russia and Africa are connected by a long friendship that goes back to the days of the Soviet Union, when the USSR provided tremendous support to African countries, helping them gain independence, develop education, industry and agriculture, train the first doctors and engineers who then built today's Africa.
«Africa is 54 countries covering an area of 30 million square kilometers. Africa has a large share of the world's mineral resources. It is now the fastest growing economy, fueled by rising commodity prices. Africa is one of the most financially dynamic places in the world. Africa is now building a modern transportation network. There are ample opportunities for investment in development projects in Africa. African countries offer countries in other regions an open, mutually beneficial cooperation». William Fidel Suleiman Kwende, Managing Director of Africana Infrastructure Capital, Golden Organics Global.
Igor Tarciano Timo, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group Brazil-Russia, Deputy of the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of the Federative Republic of Brazil, highlighted the issues of bilateral cooperation between Brazil and Russia. «In the new geopolitical conditions, our cooperation plays an increasing role in the implementation of new projects that lead to the strengthening of the economies of our countries. We pay great attention to financial cooperation. The Central Bank of Brazil attaches great importance to this. Our cooperation has long been successful in traditional areas – trade in meat and other food products. Cooperation in the field of maritime transport and rail transport is also developing», Igor Tarciano Timo noted in his speech.
The closing statement was made by Vladimir Kuznetsov, Director of the UN Information Center in Moscow and Chairman of the UN Country Team in Russia. He noted that the topics raised by the Forum participants were, in his opinion, extremely important both for the global agenda and for the efforts of the United Nations today. The plight of the world as a result of armed conflicts, climate change, division, poverty and unemployment, mass displacement of people, the consequences of the global pandemic, etc., has led to a lack of funds for sustainable development financing. «And thus, the most important thing that needs to be done today for the development of the global economy and the smooth functioning of financial markets is to restore the trust that has been lost,» Vladimir Kuznetsov said in conclusion.
Summing up the discussion, Alexey Gromyko remarked that the universal concern about the current situation of division and global distrust in the world, as many speakers have noted, should be overcome by the resumption of dialogue, cooperation between the leading economies of the world, and in the context of the Forum, by building new bridges to overcome the large-scale global economic crisis.
An important part of the event was the awarding of the winners of the International Public Award «Business Elite of Eurasia», established in 2016 by the FBA EAC and the International Banking Council. In the category «Benchmark of Stability» the award was given to the Chinese company SLC-Rus, Financial institutions’ Association of Kazakhstan received the statuette in the category «Benchmark of Development», the Italian company LEVORO, according to the decision of the Organizing Committee of the Award, became the «Benchmark of Reliability».
During the final part of the Forum, the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the FBA EAC and the Indian Association «MSME Development Forum» took place. On behalf of the FBA EAC the Memorandum was signed by General Director of the Association Oleg Berezovoy, on behalf of the Indian Association – by Founding Chairman Rajneesh Goenka.
The closing statement was made by Vladimir Kuznetsov, Director of the UN Information Center in Moscow and Chairman of the UN Country Team in Russia. He noted that the topics raised by the Forum participants were, in his opinion, extremely important both for the global agenda and for the efforts of the United Nations today. The plight of the world as a result of armed conflicts, climate change, division, poverty and unemployment, mass displacement of people, the consequences of the global pandemic, etc., has led to a lack of funds for sustainable development financing. «And thus, the most important thing that needs to be done today for the development of the global economy and the smooth functioning of financial markets is to restore the trust that has been lost,» Vladimir Kuznetsov said in conclusion.
Summing up the discussion, Alexey Gromyko remarked that the universal concern about the current situation of division and global distrust in the world, as many speakers have noted, should be overcome by the resumption of dialogue, cooperation between the leading economies of the world, and in the context of the Forum, by building new bridges to overcome the large-scale global economic crisis.
An important part of the event was the awarding of the winners of the International Public Award «Business Elite of Eurasia», established in 2016 by the FBA EAC and the International Banking Council. In the category «Benchmark of Stability» the award was given to the Chinese company SLC-Rus, Financial institutions’ Association of Kazakhstan received the statuette in the category «Benchmark of Development», the Italian company LEVORO, according to the decision of the Organizing Committee of the Award, became the «Benchmark of Reliability».
During the final part of the Forum, the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the FBA EAC and the Indian Association «MSME Development Forum» took place. On behalf of the FBA EAC the Memorandum was signed by General Director of the Association Oleg Berezovoy, on behalf of the Indian Association – by Founding Chairman Rajneesh Goenka.
