14th Eurasian Economic Forum Receives Guests from Greater Eurasia
The 14th Eurasian Economic Forum has wrapped up in Verona. The Forum brought together guests from 28 countries, and more than 80 speakers and presenters took part in sessions and panel discussions. The Forum was organized by the Roscongress Foundation, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, and the Conoscere Eurasia Association. Forum co-organizers included the Association of European Businesses and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
Guests and participants of this year’s Forum included: former Prime Minister of Italy and President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation Romano Prodi; Ex-Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroder; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Puri; Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company Igor Sechin; Chairman of the Management Board and Member of the Board of Directors of NOVATEK Leonid Mikhelson; President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) Viktor Vekselberg; Trafigura CEO Jeremy Weir; Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil Neil Chapman; Permanent Representative of Russia to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov; Mayor of Verona Federico Sboarina; and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse, Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Baden-Württemberg Klaus Mangold among others.
“The timing of the Eurasian Economic Forum was very important. It is now more important than ever for people to get together and talk about the problems we are facing. Verona has rightfully become this place of unification of restored business activity in Europe. The Forum has established itself as a major discussion platform with a meaningful present and, of course, a great future ahead of it,” Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov said.
“When considering the processes now taking place in the world, we must proceed from reality and withstand the temptation presented by simple solutions. For example, we must not believe it will be possible to quickly eliminate the power industry that we have built up and which is to serve as the basis for future development. The Verona Forum is sending proposals to the G20 in Rome and COP26 in Glasgow. We must find a way to resolve the enormous problems associated with climate change and the need for an energy system able to withstand the challenges we are facing already this winter,” President of Banca Intesa and the Conoscere Eurasia Association Antonio Fallico said.
During the two-day business programme, participants discussed a wide range of practical and relevant issues in economics and finance, healthcare, ecology, energy, and technological innovation in Greater Eurasia. The Forum was attended by Russian and Italian business leaders, heads of business associations, governors, politicians, experts, and high-ranking representatives of foreign countries.
The Forum kicked off with a special session on ‘Structural Changes in the Economy and the Future of Energy’, which saw Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin make a presentation. The first day of the business programme was devoted to discussing the energy transition, the circular economy, and the green economy. On the second day, guests took part in discussions on the impact of the pandemic on banks and the financial sector, technological innovation and digital transition, as well as the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the modern economy and the debate on overcoming the existing neoliberal model. Live broadcasts of all business programme sessions can be found on the Verona Forum website as well as on the sites of the Roscongress Foundation and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
In addition to the business programme, the Forum hosted a concert by the Alexandrov Russian Army Song and Dance Ensemble with the participation of Italian star Al Bano. Residents and guests of the city were also treated to a photo exhibition on Verona’s main square entitled “Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia”, dedicated to the various aspects of bilateral cooperation – from culture to economy – that took place in the decades following the war.
The 15th Anniversary Eurasian Economic Forum will be held in Verona in 2022.
