The organizers of the XII
Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona
the Roscongress Foundation, St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and
Italian non-profit Conoscere Eurasia Association have officially concluded the first days business
programme. The days events included four sessions dedicated to cooperation in
the Eurasian space.
Participants
of the special session Systemic challenges of the global energy
discussed a wide range of issues related to the development of the global
energy sector: sustainable energy development, changes in the structure of the
global energy balance, the role of political factors in the volatility of the
energy market, as well as the role of natural gas in the Paris Agreement on
climate change.
Rosneft President
and CEO Igor Sechin presented the sessions key report. He discussed the
fundamental factors that will affect the development of the energy sector in
the coming decades and the prospective development of shale oil extraction and
green energy.
«Despite the
difficulties it is facing, the global energy industry has enormous potential
for further development,» said Igor Sechin. «It is important to address the
issue of satisfying increasing energy demands while simultaneously reducing
emissions. It is clear that oil and gas will remain the key resources for
solving this issue in the long run.»
The session was
also attended by Eni President Emma Marcegaglia, BP Group Chief Executive
Robert Dudley, Glencore International AG Chief Executive Officer Ivan
Glasenberg, Equinors Executive Vice President of Exploration Tim Dodson, VTB
Bank President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin, President of
the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation and Former Prime Minister of Italy
Romano Prodi, German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations Executive
Director Michael Harms, and Banca Intesa Russia President and Conoscere Eurasia
Association President Antonio Fallico.
The session
Can business play a constructive role in the geopolitics of today? discussed
businesses participation in shaping state policy with regards to regional
cooperation. Participants noted that risk factors for businesses include unfair
competition in the form of unclear rules of interaction, protectionary
measures, and sanction policies of individual states.
The event included
the participation of the Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International
Affairs at the Higher School of Economics Sergey Karaganov, Director General of
the European Commissions Directorate General for International Cooperation and
Development Stefano Manservisi, Minister of Trade of the Eurasian Economic
Commission Veronika Nikishina, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of
European Businesses Frank Schauff, and President of the Russian Union of
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) Alexander Shokhin, among others.
The RSPP President
noted that there is significant potential for the further development of
cooperation within the B20, which could be achieved by implementing a unified
cooperation mechanism, maintaining agendas and forms of cooperation, and
collaborating to implement previous chairmanships priorities.
«In their
recommendations to heads of state, businesses are trying to convey universal
values, including the proposal of socially oriented measures and measures to
reduce administrative barriers,» said Shokhin.
The session The
role of natural gas in helping Europe to achieve its energy security and meet
its climate change goals was dedicated to the growing importance of
natural gas as a source of energy that meets green demands. Another subject of
discussion was the role of legislation in ensuring the reliability of Europes
fuel supply.
The session
featured Chairman of the Management Board and Member of the Board of Directors
of Novatek Leonid Mikhelson, Gazprom Deputy Chairman and Gazprom Export
Director General Elena Burmistrova, Chairman of Creon Capital Fares Kilzie, and
Chairman of Bosphorus Energy Club Mehmet Öğütçü.
«Natural gas has
clear advantages compared to other extractive resources. It is already a key
fuel in many energy systems, including the European one. Today, Europes
natural gas transport system includes over 200,000 km of pipelines and more
than 30 regasification terminals. 20% of Europes electricity is gas-generated
and the growing use of natural gas will allow for the reduction of omissions at
lower costs in the future. Especially at todays low prices. Novateks resource
base is located on the Yamal and Gyda Peninsulas. This regions reserves are on
par with those of Qatar. Novatek has been working in this region for 25 years
now and has gained significant technological experience, allowing us to have
one of the lowest gas production costs in the world,» said Leonid Mikhelson.
The session Creating
the economy of trust between the Atlantic and the Pacific discussed the
roles of regions and regional projects in creating a unified space of trust and
cooperation across Greater Eurasia and the necessity of developing unified laws
for doing business sustainably and responsibly.
The session
featured presentations by First Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign
Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov, First Deputy Governor of
Sverdlovsk Region Alexey Orlov, Mayor of Turin Chiara Appendino, and General
Director and Chairman of the Board of SME Corporation Alexander Braverman.