The key theme for discussion at this year’s Forum in Verona was ‘Greater Eurasia as a driving force in the current international geopolitical and economic context’.
More than 1,100 delegates from Russia, Italy, Germany, the USA, Greece, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Estonia, South Korea, India, Kazakhstan, China, Belarus, and other states took part in the event. The Forum was addressed by 84 speakers: government officials, business leaders, political and public figures, and diplomats.
A number of prominent political and public figures took part in discussions on the issues outlined in the forum’s business programme. These included Undersecretary of State at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy Maria Elena Boschi; Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov; Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Nikolay Asaul; State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Grigory Rapota; Special Adviser of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Hirofumi Katase; President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation and Prime Minister of Italy from 1996–1998 and 2006–2008 Romano Prodi; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rosneft and German Chancellor from 1998–2005 Gerhard Schroeder; and Mayor of Verona Federico Sboarina.
Major business was also strongly represented at the Forum, with speakers including CEO of Rosneft Igor Sechin; Chairman of the Management Board of NOVATEK Leonid Mikhelson; Managing Director of SWAN Insights and Executive Director of the Big Data Analytics Lab at Bisnode Marcus Hartmann; CEO of Glencore International Ivan Glasenberg; CEO of Trafigura Jeremy Weir; Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli & C. Marco Tronchetti Provera; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bosco di Ciliegi Group Mikhail Kusnirovich; and President of Compagnia di San Paolo Francesco Profumo.
Participants discussed a number of issues, including building new projects and models for government interaction and economic cooperation in the current environment, developing the innovative infrastructure of Greater Eurasia, and cooperating in energy, manufacturing, technology, transport, and the agricultural industry. Among the problems touched on were developments in the geopolitical environment in Eurasia, as well as prospects for cooperation between the regions of various countries. Innovation was viewed as the main driver of long-term growth and global economic change by discussion participants and it was also particularly emphasized the importance of establishing dialogue between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union on political and economic cooperation.
President of the Conoscere Eurasia Association Antonio Fallico said: “I’d like to highlight the significant role played by the Roscongress Foundation and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in the activities of the Verona event in recent years. Our partnership has expanded our organizational capabilities, secured unique expertise, and enriched the Forum with new ideas, for which I would like to extend my profound gratitude to our Russian friends.”
The XI Eurasian Economic Forum will take place in October 2018.
Opening ceremony. Welcome speeches
Special session: New Prospects of the Eurasian Cooperation
Session 1: EU-EAEU: Relations Development Between Two Organizations in the Greater Eurasia Space
Session 2: Prospects of the Energy Sector in the Greater Eurasia
Session 3: Financial Flows in the Greater Eurasia in the International Geopolitical Context
Session 4: Information in the Service of Business: Unlocking the Potential of Digital Technologies and Big Data
Summing up the Day
Opening ceremony of the Second Forum Day
Session 5: Innovations as a Response to the Economic Development Challenges in the Greater Eurasia
Session 6: Interregional Economic Cooperation as the Shortest and Most Efficient Route to Economic Development
Session 7: Transport and Infrastructure Development as the Flywheel of Economic Development of the Greater Eurasia
Session 8: Digital Technologies as a Development Catalyst for the Greater Eurasia Countries
Summing up the Forum