The SME Forum

Amidst the current challenging conditions, representatives from various business associations and enterprises will convene to express their perspectives on fostering cooperation within the Greater Eurasian region. This platform serves as an avenue for fruitful exchanges and robust discussions on this pertinent matter. Notably, small and medium-sized businesses assume a significant role in this context, as their format and nature of operations render them less susceptible to non-market pressures. Are there any real tangible opportunities for advancing trade and economic cooperation in this environment? Can small and medium-sized enterprises emerge as the catalysts driving such cooperation? Which sectors and industries hold the most promise for future collaboration?

Moderator
Alexey Bobrovsky, Economic Observer

Alexey Bobrovsky

Economic Observer

Alexey Bobrovsky was born on 15 August 1981. In 2002, he graduated from the Journalism Department of the Modern University for the Humanities in Moscow. He has worked as reporter and host on the TV-Centre Channel, Channel 1, Radio Station Business-FM. Since 2009, he has authored and presented the Kurs Dnya [Daily Rate of Exchange] on the Russia-24 TV Channel, Head of the Channel’s Service of Economic News. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Internet site Vestifinance.ru. Since 2016, he has been General Producer of Vestfinance Forum – a new interactive platform, featuring Andrey Klepach, Boris Titov, Alexander Novak, Ksenia Yudaeva and other authoritative economic experts.

Panellists
Artur Gershberg, Founder, "R-line" Transport Systems"
Nikolai Dunayev, Chairman of the Management Board, Sibirya Export-Import Incorporated
Anton Nazarov, General Director, Mediterranean Shipping Company Rus
Mehmet Ozil, General Director, NSC Chemestry
Gianni Sfoggia, General Director, Sfoggiatech
Antonio Fallico, President, Conoscere Eurasia Association
Tadzio Schilling, Chief Executive Officer, Association of European Businesses (АЕВ)
Giuseppe Esposito, Chairman, EP World Catering Facility Management DMCС

Nikolai Dunayev

Chairman of the Management Board, Sibirya Export-Import Incorporated

General Director of LLC "Energoservis"; Head of the Committee on Industry, member of the Presidium of the Russian public organization of small and medium business "OPORA RUSSIA". Born in 1980 in Tula. High education. He graduated from the Law Faculty of Marmara University in Istanbul in "International Trade Law". In 2002, he opened an office of the industrial holding in Russia. Later he founded a number of industrial joint ventures with Turkish, Italian and German businesspersons. The main range of activities: industrial compressors, refrigeration and power generating equipment. Regions of the presence of these companies in five regions of Russia: Moscow, Samara, Kazan, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg. Actively participates in the organization of business cooperation and business community. Since 2012 actively participates in the activities of the All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium Enterprises "SUPPORT OF RUSSIA" in the discussion of draft laws and works in committees and commissions. Member of the Investment Committee of business associations (RSPP, the CCI and the "SUPPORT OF RUSSIA"). He speaks Turkish, English and Italian

Anton Nazarov

General Director, Mediterranean Shipping Company Rus

Mehmet Ozil

General Director, NSC Chemestry

Gianni Sfoggia

General Director, Sfoggiatech

Antonio Fallico

President, Conoscere Eurasia Association

Born in 1945 in Bronte (Italy). In 1964 graduated from a classic lyceum. In 1969, first graduated from faculty of Philology, and later in Economics and Commerce at University of Catania.From 1970 to 1989 he gave lectures at the Faculty of Economics and Commerce at Verona University. In 1995 he was accredited by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation as a Head of Moscow office of Banco Ambrosiano Veneto, which preceded Banca Intesa S.p.A. (today – the Intesa Sanpaolo Group).Since 2003 he is a President of the Banca Intesa Russia.From 2004 until 2008 was elected as a President of the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs “GIM-Unimpresa”, which includes about 150 Italian companies operating in Russia.He was awarded the Order of Friendship (Russian Federation, 2008), Star of Merit for Labour (Italian Republic, 2006) and by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Badge of Horner “for his valuable contribution to international collaboration” (2015).In 2007, he founded the association in Verona "Conoscere Eurasia" public, non-profit organization with the aim of developing and deepening cultural, social and economic relations between Italy and the Eurasian countries. In 2008 he received the honorary title of Doctor of Science conferred by the Plekhanov Russian University of EconomicsIn May 2008 was appointed as an Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Verona.In 2012 was appointed as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the first Russian-Italian private equity fund MIR Capital, established by Intesa Sanpaolo and Gazprombank.Speaks Russian, English and French.Married, has a son.

Tadzio Schilling

Chief Executive Officer, Association of European Businesses (АЕВ)

On May 1, 2020, Tadzio Schilling took office as the CEO of the Association of European Businesses (AEB).


Mr. Schilling was elected by representatives of the AEB’s member companies at the Annual General Meeting on March 17, 2020. He replaces Dr. Frank Schauff, who had headed the AEB since 2007 and was re-elected to a fourth term in 2016.

Tadzio Schilling holds an MA in International Relations and an advanced MA in International History and Politics from the Graduate Institute Geneva, as well as an Executive MPA from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.

In his professional career, he has worked in various finance, HR, and sales functions for companies such as Zurich Cantonal Bank, Dell Inc., Wesser & Partner, and FirstClimate. He has also worked as a researcher and lecturer in Russian Studies at the Humboldt University of Berlin.

Before joining the AEB, he served as Deputy Head of Economic Affairs, Finance, and Science at the Swiss Embassy, then as Inbound Business Development Leader and Head of the German Business Center at EY.

He has also served as Chairman of the AEB SME Committee and a Board Member of the Joint Chambers of Commerce Switzerland-CIS.

Tadzio speaks German, English, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, and some Chinese.

Giuseppe Esposito

Chairman, EP World Catering Facility Management DMCС