The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Eastern Economic Forum, Yury Trutnev, has held a meeting to discuss the preparations under way for EEF 2021 in Vladivostok. Topics on the agenda included the efforts to prepare infrastructure in the city and venues at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), as well as public health measures.
“There’s two months to go until the start of the Eastern Economic Forum. The Forum’s core mission is to attract investment and facilitate inter-business communication: it’s about our ability to build effective support mechanisms. But the organizational part is no less important. We need to prepare the city to welcome guests in the context of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic”.
The Vice President underscored the need to observe measures designed to limit the spread of coronavirus and the enhanced cooperation between Rospotrebnadzor, regional and local government and the head of FEFU. “The Forum is a tool for developing the entire Far East region. Lots of people will be coming to take part in it, from investors and businesspeople to experts and economists. It’s important to ensure the safety of guests at the event and, of course, the safety of Vladivostok residents. We need to be mindful of this and develop all necessary measures,” he said.
Other talking points at the meeting centred around the need to ensure adequate city infrastructure, prepare venues at the FEFU and provide enough hotel rooms to accommodate Forum participants and guests. As stated by Oleg Kozhemyako, the Governor of Primorsky Territory, 23 hotels have been earmarked for this purpose, including guest facilities at FEFU. In total, there are over 5,700 rooms available.
According to the Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of the Eastern Economic Forum, Igor Pavlov, a great deal of attention has been dedicated to the Forum’s sport and cultural programme. Provisionally, there are plans to hold an annual international Kanō Jigorō judo tournament as part of the sports programme, under the patronage of President Vladimir Putin. Sailings events (for the EEF Cup and Far East Cup International Regatta) and sporting events as part of the Far East Regatta of Large Training Ships are also planned, along with the II International Far East Games Festival for residents of the Far Eastern Federal district, among other events.
As part of the cultural programme, concerts are set to be held for Vladivostok residents on the main stage of the Far East Street exhibition, with musical performances and shows by dance groups in addition to separate open-air performances on Ploshchad' Bortsov Revolyutsii. Exhibitions will be held at the Vladimir K. Arseniev Museum of Far East History, Vladivostok Kremlin open-air museum and Primorsky State Picture Gallery. Shows are scheduled to be held at the Primorsky Regional Youth Drama Theatre and the Primorsky Regional Academic Drama Theatre of Maxim Gorky. The programme will also include the IV Far East Constellation Festival of Culture and Art, which will involve creative groups from the Far East Region. As noted by Yury Trutnev, all events must be held in accordance with the public health measures developed by Rospotrebnadzor.
