Roscongress Foundation and World Economic Forum Expand Formats of Cooperation
Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov and World Economic Forum President Børge Brende held a meeting in Moscow.
During the meeting, the parties emphasized that the question of lifting temporary restrictions on the participation of a number of major Russian entrepreneurs in the Annual Meeting in Davos (WEF), which occurred in January 2019, had become one of the most difficult stages in the history of Russia’s involvement in the Davos Forum. Commenting on further cooperation between the Roscongress Foundation and WEF, Kobyakov stressed the importance of all parties strictly observing the principle of reciprocity. “It is important to note that the restoration of trust between two major international development institutions, the WEF and the Roscongress Foundation, is a key factor in the smooth implementation of joint projects and initiatives during the anniversary Davos Forum in 2020”, Kobyakov said.
Brende reaffirmed his willingness to expand the terms of the current memorandum of cooperation between the Roscongress Foundation and WEF. In particular, he will submit proposals for the SPIEF 2019 business programme and also expressed interest in working out a joint Russian session at the anniversary Forum in 2020. “The Forum leadership is interested in maximizing Russian participation in anniversary events. We would appreciate the help of the Roscongress Foundation, which has agreed to take a direct part in preparing the Russian session in Davos”, the World Economic Forum president said. In addition, WEF is ready to assist in organizing live broadcasts of WEF sessions at the Russia House in Davos.
Brende noted that the Russia House project in Davos had established itself as a platform for holding discussions on topics of the utmost relevance: “I am glad that the Russia House has become such an effective format and attracts the attention of business and government representatives with its unique atmosphere of cordiality and hospitality; we are willing to expand our comprehensive cooperation with the Roscongress Foundation”.
Over its five days of work in 2018, over 1,500 guests from 70 foreign countries visited the official Russia House in Davos. More than 150 media representatives worked at the site. A traditional meeting of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council in Russia was held on the final day of the Russia House business programme.
