24– May 25 2023 Moscow hosted the 2nd Eurasian Economic Forum timed to coincide with the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council of the EAEU (EDF-2023) with the participation of heads of member states and observers to the EAEU (The Republic of Armenia was represented by Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Armenia Mher Grigoryan). This event was held under the chairmanship of 2023 year of the Russian Federation in the EAEU bodies (Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the EEC Council).
The Eurasian Economic Forum is an annual business event of the EAEU in the economic sphere, focused on participation in it of the first persons of the EAEU member states, major, SMEs of the Member States and third countries, heads and representatives of state authorities of the EAEU countries, as well as leaders and members of governments of third countries, representatives of international, scientific and educational organizations, interested in developing cooperation with the EAEU. The purpose of the Forum is the further development of economic cooperation between the EAEU countries, improvement of cooperation ties in the Eurasian space, formation of reliable links between business entities, achieving the effect of combining investment and innovation potentials.
More 2700 experts from 54 countries of the world took part in the business program of the Forum, including government officials, business community, international organizations and media from Uzbekistan, China, South Africa, as well as UN representatives, TRAIN, International Organization for Migration. The main topics of the business part of the Forum were the most relevant and demanded by business issues of integration processes in the EAEU, including those of particular interest to the Russian Federation.
2-The th Eurasian Economic Forum in Moscow was held under the motto "Eurasian Integration in a Multipolar World". The forum was intended to popularize the idea of the Eurasian Economic Union and improve cooperation ties in the Eurasian space.
Leaders of the EAEU member states addressed the Forum participants. In particular, Vladimir Putin in his speech noted the importance and relevance of the forum, which will now be held regularly, He stressed, that the role of this association is growing, and this speaks of the successful development of Eurasian integration. The President of Russia drew attention to profound changes, happening in the world. More and more states are aimed at strengthening national sovereignty, independent domestic and foreign policy, adhere to their own development model, expand the network of partnerships, treat each other with respect. All of them are in favor of building a new, a fairer architecture of economic relations, seek to constructively influence world processes. With this approach, According to Putin, solidarity of the majority of participants in international communication. he noted, that Russia, and its partners in the Eurasian Union are interested in fair, productive, pragmatic interaction.
Within the framework of the EEF-2023, 35 business sessions, divided into seven thematic areas: "Human capital", "Technology and cooperation", "EAEU in a Changing World", "Eurasian conjugation", "Internal market of the EAEU: customs cooperation, competition and public procurement", "Strategic block" and the block of the EAEU Business Council.
As part of the Human Capital track, experts discussed the prospects for unlocking the tourism potential of the EAEU countries, work with young talents, labor migration issues, interuniversity scientific and technical cooperation, experience of countering the coronavirus epidemic.
Discussions of the thematic block "Technologies and cooperation" were devoted to the issues of technological sovereignty as a guarantee of energy and food security, environmental regulation, food market organizations, development of entrepreneurship in the new conditions. Experts discussed various aspects of the functioning of the Unified System of Technical Regulation of the EAEU and the removal of barriers to trade, as well as standardization as a tool to ensure product safety and quality.
The participants of the sessions within the framework of the direction "EAEU in a Changing World" considered the key areas of cooperation between the EAEU, SCO and BRICS, monetary and financial cooperation and transition to new forms of settlements in mutual trade. Business dialogues were held, dedicated to cooperation of the Eurasian integration format with Indonesia and Latin American countries.
Participants of the sessions of the thematic block "Eurasian conjugation" considered key issues of the digital agenda: state regulation of the IT industry, circulation of personal data in the EAEU space and import independence of the countries of the integration association in the markets of software and telecommunications equipment. Discussions within this area were also devoted to international settlements and digital assets, e-commerce, creation of the Eurasian Reinsurance Company and new sources of data in the EAEU statistics.
Participants of the track "Internal market of the EAEU: customs cooperation, competition and public procurement” discussed issues of improving Union law in the face of modern challenges and customs regulation, digital bid-rigging detection systems and digitalization of public procurement.
The “Strategic block” has become a platform for discussion of the “EAEU Strategy – 2030+”: participants answered questions about, what should be the key goal of the development of the EAEU for the period up to 2030 and to 2045 of the year, what specific steps need to be taken, to ensure the achievement of the development goals of the integration association, and also what are the new directions for the strategic development of the EAEU. This meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers of the Union countries. During the discussion, new directions for the strategic development of the EAEU and projects, which can contribute to an increase in the share of high-tech exports and the creation of trans-Eurasian corporations.
Commenting on the work of the forum, Chairman of the EEC Council, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk noted: "AT 2023 this year, together with our colleagues in the EAEU, we continue to work on the creation of common energy markets, working to solve climate problems, energy security, digital transformation, food security... The emergence of the Eurasian Economic Forum has become another milestone on the path to strengthening cooperation between the EAEU countries, an instrument for the growth of mutual understanding between them…”
Vladimir CHUSHKIN
