The XII Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, organized
by the Roscongress Foundation, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
and the Italian non-profit Conoscere Eurasia Association, has come to an end.
The event was attended by more than 1,200 people from 41 countries including
Italy, Russia, Austria, Vietnam, Germany, Israel, Portugal, USA, Turkey, France
and others.
The business programme included six thematic sessions under
the topic Business connects Eurasia from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The Forum
discussions were devoted to cooperation between economic entities in Greater
Eurasia, such as the role of business in modern geopolitics, the creation of an
economy of cooperation from the Atlantic to the Pacific, cooperation in the
energy sector and combating climate change, the implementation of joint
transport and infrastructure projects, the financial sector amid the growing
geopolitical challenges, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the digital economy
of the future.
«In his greeting to the participants of the Eurasian
Economic Forum, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin emphasized
the unifying role of the business community in Eurasia, a continent which is
home to over seventy percent of the worlds population. That is why the Forum
is of global importance we need economic integration. We need to create an economy
of trust not only in Eurasia, but also on a global economic scale. The subject
of trust is discussed at business events around the world, and these
discussions will continue at the Russian House in Davos, the St. Petersburg
International Economic Forum and other major events,» said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor
to the President of the Russian Federation.
The Forum was attended by Vladimir Chizhov, Permanent
Representative of Russia to the EU; Alexander Yakovenko, Rector, Diplomatic
Academy of the Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Leonid
Mikhelson, CEO and Chairman, Novatek PJSC; Elena Burmistrova, Deputy Chairperson
of the Gazprom Management Committee, Gazprom PJSC, and General Director, Gazprom
Export; Emma Marcegaglia, Chairperson, Eni; Robert Dudley, CEO, BP; Ivan
Glasenberg, CEO, Glencore International; Tim Dodson, Executive Vice President
for Exploration, Equinor; Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman, VTB; Romano
Prodi, former head of the European Commission and Italian Prime Minister, President
of the International Cooperation Fund; Stefano Manservisi, Director General, European
Commissions Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development;
Veronika Nikishina, Member of the Board, Minister for Trade of the Eurasian
Economic Commission; Laziz Kudratov, First Deputy Minister of Economic
Relations, Investment and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and heads of large
companies and business associations, governors, politicians, experts and
diplomats.
Participants of the special session entitled Systemic
Challenges of the Global Energy, discussed trends in the development of the
global energy sector. The keynote address was delivered by Igor Sechin, CEO of
Rosneft. He spoke about the primary factors that will impact the development of
the energy market in the coming decades and the prospects for the development
of shale oil production and green energy.
The Forum also played host to a number of special
events. A separate session organized by the Civil Chamber of the Russian
Federation and the Innosocium Foundation entitled Social Inequality One of
the reasons of Current Global Crisis. The moderator was Valery Fadeyev,
Chairman of the Presidential Council on the Development of Civil Society and
Human Rights. Participants discussed various crises that concern social and
economic systems of the world today, as well as the role of inequality.
The representatives from Uzbekistan spoke about the
investment potential of the country at the session Uzbekistan and Italy large
projects. A presentation of the investment potential of the Orenburg region
was also held. Representatives of the Moscow Government presented their
strategy for incorporating new technologies to ensure the sustainable
development of urban transport infrastructure and energy facilities.
Summarizing the event, Antonio Fallico, Chairman of
Intesa Bank and President of the Conoscere Eurasia Association said: «Since
Conoscere Eurasia has been established 12 years ago we created a social and
business movement, that brings the Forum values to life. We do not want to
replace politicians, but we want to play the role of a business democracy,
regional democracy, democracy of peoples and provinces. We are confident that
the Eurasian Economic Union is a natural and necessary bridge between Europe,
China, and the United States. The space from the Atlantic to the Pacific is a
reality that exists, that works and that awaits a tangible input in the
development of these relations.»