This year, as we celebrate the Forum’s 5th anniversary we have an opportunity to look back on everything that has been achieved since 2015. It was the first time when Vladivostok hosted the trendsetters from Russian and international business communities, government officials, foreign dignitaries, researchers, and experts – in other words, everyone who was prepared to cooperate with Russia and work in the Russian Far East; everyone, who was ready to launch new production facilities and develop those already in place; everyone, who aimed to create new jobs, construct roads, housing, and hospitals – namely improve the life of our Eastern territories.
The goals we set 5 years ago appeared unattainable back then. We discussed a broad range of topics: expectations and development prospects, creating new economic regimes and improving the investment climate, passing legislative initiatives and changing legal framework, putting new social infrastructure in place and helping regions reach their potential – in other words, we were talking about the future. Some were hopeful, some remained skeptical, yet there was only one thing that mattered: we were ready to act as one. And today, that future has become our present.
The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin designated the development of the Far East as a national priority of the entire 21st century. At the behest of the President, a whole new economy is being created in the region. Large companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses can count on tax breaks, administrative preferences, concessional loans, and support from the state development institutions.
A lot has been accomplished during the last 5 years: over 40 legislative initiatives that sustain investment activity and improve the social sphere have been passed; 20 advanced special economic zones and 5 free ports have been put in place. These measures resulted in over 1,780 new investment projects worth over RUB 3.8 trillion, and 230 new enterprises appeared. The government provides targeted infrastructural and financial support to the investors. Over 70 thousand people received free land and now are building houses and farms on their ‘Far Eastern hectares’.
17 different countries invest in the Far East: China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, to name a few. Since 2014, nearly 32% of all direct foreign investment came to our region.
The Far East itself has expanded: Zabaikalsky Krai and the Republic of Buryatia joined the Far Eastern Federal District, while the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East now oversees an additional region: the Russian Arctic Zone.
When it comes to the social sphere, the ‘Unified Subsidy’ mechanism has provided existing measures with additional stimulus. 57 centres of economic growth have received funding for the construction of schools and nurseries, hospitals as well as medical and obstetric stations, cultural centres and sports facilities. These centres are home to over 80% of Far Easterners.
A fair amount of good work has been done. Economic growth in the FEFD exceeds 4%, which is two times greater than the Russian national average. However, we are now faced with another objective: increasing economic growth in the Russian Far East to 6% per year. We also must figure out how to improve the quality of life in the Russian Far East and in the Arctic so that it exceeds the Russian national average. These objectives have been set by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Our goal is to make the Russian Far East more accessible to investors and comfortable for the people that live here, providing them with the confidence that their dreams will become a reality in the nearest future.
Many topics that were brought up at previous Forums ended up serving as the foundation for the development and passing of legislation, the implementation of new business support measures, and the improvement of the Far East’s social welfare. I am confident that this Forum will continue contributing to the open dialogue between businesses and authorities, experts and researchers, sociologists and demographers.
I would like to wish Forum guests and participants all the best. The Russian Far East is open for cooperation: we value each partner, every opinion and every initiative that helps develop our country!
Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of the Russian Federation Yury Trutnev”
5th Eastern Economic Forum took place 4–6 September in Vladivostok under the motto “The Far East – Development Horizons”.
Business Programme
The Forum hosted over 100 panel discussions, roundtables, and business peakfasts dedicated to the most relevant topics on the international and regional agendas.
The discussions have been poken into 4 thematic areas:
New Solutions for Accelerating Economic Growth
Improving the Business Environment
The Far East and Asia Pacific: Fostering Collaboration
New Solutions for Improving Quality of Life
Key event of the business programme took place 5 September. Plenary session of the 5th Eastern Economic Forum featured Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia.
The session was moderated my Sergei Pilev, Russia TV Channel Anchor and Deputy Director and President of the Bering Bellingshausen Institute for the Americas.
Vladimir Putin: “This year we are hosting over 8,500 participants from 65 countries. Since the first Forum, representation has increased more than twofold. We believe this is a convincing indication of the growing interest in the Russian Far East and the cooperation opportunities offered by this truly colossal region.”
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi: “Yesterday, President Putin and I paid a visit to the ‘Far East Street’ exhibition. I was very impressed with what I saw – great versatile talents of the people living in the region and innovations that happen here. I saw many opportunities for cooperation and mutual progress.”
President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga: “This is the third time I take part in the Forum as the head of Mongolia, while this event takes place for the fifth time. It has become an influential platform for communication and developing the Far East, as well as fostering cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe: “I want you to spread the wings of your imagination and see the new opportunities Japan can ping into your future. Let us create history together, let us pave the way.”
Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Bin Mohamad: “It was great to hear that of all regions, Russia is going to develop the Far East. Russia is one of the few countries that is located both in Europe and in Asia. Its unique geographical location makes it a pidge between East and West, between Europe and Asia. I suppose this unique situation will help Russia play an in important role in both Europe and the Far East.”
Information:
The Forum programme included the following events:
6 business dialogues: Russia–Europe, Russia–China, Russia–ASEAN, Russia–India, Russia–Republic of Korea, Russia–Japan
Valdai Discussion Club Session ‘The Asian Mirror: The Pivot East through the Eyes of Asian Partners’
Sberbank Panel Session ‘The Future of Learning: Where is the World Heading? New Educational Platforms’
Business peakfast ‘Increasing the Investment Appeal of the Far East’
Round Table 'PJSC Rosneft Meets Japanese Business'
8th APEC Conference on Cooperation in Higher Education
10th meeting of the High-Level Russia–Singapore Inter-Governmental Commission
2nd Russian-Korean Interregional Forum: Exploring New Opportunities
9 lectures by experts from Russia, Japan, China, and United Kingdom on economics and international relations.
22 additional events took place at the Building Trust Area and ‘Healthy Life’ Area.
Vladimir Putin chaired a State Council Presidium meeting at Far Eastern Federal University. Meeting participants discussed the national programme for the development of Russia’s Far East until 2025 and up to 2035.
September 3 saw the Start day of the Forum. The programme of the day included 5th China–Russia Media Forum that featured representatives of the leading media, Internet platforms, and other industry organizations from both countries. Konstantin Chuychenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Chief of the Government Staff headed the Russian delegation.
Among other events included in the Start day were International Academic Conference on Russian-Chinese Relations, ‘Russia and China: 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China’ Commemorative exhibition, and conference ‘A Common Economic Space from the Atlantic to the Pacific: The Greater Eurasian Partnership’.
Participants
The Forum pought together over 8,500 delegates, media representatives, and exhibition participants from Russia and 65 countries and territories around the world. They included Australia, Austria, Argentina, the Bahamas, Bahrein, Belize, Belgium, the Islands of Bermuda, Punei-Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Pitain, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Israel, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jersey Island, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Turkey, UAE, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and others.
The largest delegations came from India, Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, and DPRK.
Other large delegations included Mongolia, USA, Singapore, Vietnam, Great Pitain, and Malaysia.
Information:
Japan (588 people), China (395 people), the Republic of Korea (285 people), India (204 people), Mongolia (69 people), USA (65 people), Singapore (58 people), Vietnam (55 people), Great Pitain (49 people), Malaysia (48 people).
“The 5th anniversary Eastern Economic Forum was record-peaking in terms of participation numbers and the total worth of contracts signed during the event. These accomplishments prove that the Forum became a significant platform to promote international cooperation and discuss relevant global and regional economic issues. The Forum pought together leading representatives of large businesses. It helps foster partnership across the Asia-Pacific region. EEF is a high-quality event. Within the business programme, the participants are offered new communication formats that contribute to its overall efficiency,” said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Eastern Economic Forum Organizing Committee
The Forum was visited by a number of senior government representatives from different countries:
Trinh Dinh Dung, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Vice Premier of DPRK Ri Ryong-nam; Etienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea, and Goohoon Kwon, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation.
The Forum was attended by 12 ministers of foreign affairs from such countries as Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, UAE, Vietnam, in addition to heads of 21 regions of the Russian Federation, 14 ministers and 15 heads of federal agencies and services.
Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, 9th President of FIFA also took part in the Forum. During the Forum he spoke about opening a football school at the Far East Federal University.
The Forum venue pought together members of the International Olympic Committee, heads of national committees from the republic of Korea, Russia, and Japan.
Over 440 companies took part in the Forum. Key participants included Tadashi Maeda, Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation; J. Paul Rollinson, President and CEO of Kinross Gold Corporation; Masayuki Sato Representative Director Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), JGC Corporation.
It was the first Forum for the heads of some of Japan’s largest companies, Japan Airlines Co Ltd and Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as for Hee-Bong Chae, head of Korea Gas Corporation, one of the leading importers of LNG in the world.
Representative delegation of India featured Sunita Sindwani, Chief General Manager at Export-Import Bank of India and Anil Kumar Jha, Chairman and Managing Director India’s largest coal mining and processing company Coal India Ltd.
Russian large business representatives included Herman Gref, President and CEO of Sberbank; Sergei Ivanov, CEO and Chairman of ALROSA; Alexei Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom; Anatoly Chubais, CEO of ROSNANO; Mikhail Zadornov, President and CEO of Otkrytie Bank; Andrei Kostin, President and CEO of VTB Bank.
Media representatives:
The Forum attracted 1279 media representatives (1024 from Russia and 225 from apoad) from 13 different countries aside from Russia: China, Estonia, France, Great Pitain, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, USA.
Agreements
270 agreements worth RUB 3.4 trillion were signed at the Forum (this number includes only the agreements that disclosed their amount). Here is the list of the most significant ones:
Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, and Alexander Kozlov, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic, attended 14 agreement signing ceremonies for over RUB 1 trillion of investment, including:
Nakhodka Fertilizer Plant and the Far East Development Corporation signed the agreement on ASEZ activity under the project to create an environmentaly friendly methanol and ammonia production centre (Primorye Territory) worth RUB 200.7 billion;
Russian Copper Company and the Far East Development Fund signed the agreement on implementing an investment project to build a mining and refining complex at the Malmyzh deposit (Khabarovsky Krai) worth RUB 142.5 billion;
Otkritie Bank plans to implement investment projects through the following formats: public-private partnership, concessionaire agreement in the form of a banking syndicate, by providing special credit instruments and hypid products as part of the project to develop the network of seven industrial parks in Far Eastern cities (Vladivostok, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sovetskaya Gavan, Blagoveshchensk, Chita, and Ulan-Ude), as well as a number of pilot projects to create and operate a nuclear medicine centre in the Republic of Buryatia and a project to create an all-season camp for children in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Total investment amount is RUB 442.5 billion. This project will be supported by the Far East Investment and Export Agency. The organizations signed the appropriate agreement.
The Far East Investment and Export Agency, Tuymaada-Neft and Yakutia Investment Development Agency signed a cooperation agreement under the project ‘Geological Survey and Commercial Exploration of Oil and Gas Deposits in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)’ worth RUB 364.7 billion.
The Far East Investment and Export Agency and Avtodor-Invest (subsidiary of Avtodor State Corporation) singed the cooperation agreement to prepare and implement the project of constructing and operating the Western Highway of Vladivostok Ring Motorway (VRM). The intended format of the project is a concessionaire agreement with a total investment amount of RUB 100 billion.
The Government of the Republic of Buryatia and VTB Bank signed a cooperation agreement that defines an action plan to support small and medium entrepreneurship. VTB Bank is the investor of the major Ozyorny project. Total investment amount exceeds RUB 77 billion.
The Far East Investment and Export Agency and Ozernaya Mining Company signed a cooperation agreement under the project to construct Ozerny mining and refining complex in the Republic of Buryatia. The total volume of private investment under this project exceeds 74 billion roubles.
Governor of Kamchatka Region Vladimir Ilyukhin, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Sergey Tyrtsev, Chairman of the Three Volcanoes Park investment company Sergey Bachin, and Head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Zarina Doguzova signed a quadruple agreement to create a resort in Kamchatka with a total investment worth RUB 39.2 billion. The project will be implemented on the principles of the public-private partnership in Kamchatka Advanced Special Economic Zone. The investor intends to build a resort in the area of Sopka Goryachaya that would include 1 thousand hotel rooms, 17 km of ski trails and two ropeways;
The Far East Investment and Export Agency and Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co. (Hayao) signed a cooperation agreement under the project to relocate the Hayao pharmaceutical plant to the Far East. The project’s total investment volume is RUB 10 billion. It will create 850 jobs.
Antey, Nakhodka Shipbuilding Company and the Far East Investment and Export Agency signed an investment agreement to build a series of cutting-edge high-capacity fishing vessels. The project’s total investment volume is RUB 10 billion. It will create 300 jobs.
Besides, the following documents were signed at the Forum:
Memorandum of Understanding between the Far Eastern Federal University and Amity University (New Delhi);
Memorandum of Understanding between the Far Eastern Federal University and Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (Gandhinagar, Gujarat);
Agreements for cross-opening of Yoga Centre and Pushkin State Russian Language Institute offices.
Cultural programme
The Forum cultural programme offered 24 events.
The ‘Far East Street’ was among the key events of the Forum cultural programme. There 11 regions of the Russian Far East presented their potential and achievements in economy, culture and tourism. The exhibition also offered an open-air cinema that screened Russian feature films and animation released between 2017 and 2019, as well as the best shorts of the Koroche festival and hosted the Indian Cinema Night.
Between 3 and 6 September, the ‘Far East Street’ was open to all EEF guests and participants. 7 September became the social day when the exhibition invited large families, retirees, veterans, and representatives of youth organizations. On 8 September the exhibition was available to everyone.
The cultural programme hosted such events as:
The Far East Beauty 2019 contest
Exhibition ‘Russian art of the 16th – early 20th centuries in the Primorye State Art Gallery collection’; ‘Low Marks Again’ by Fyodor Reshetnikov (one-masterpiece exhibition from the State Tretyakov Gallery collection); ‘Matron’s jewel box. Roman jewels from the State Hermitage collection’ (exhibition of antique jewellery from the Hermitage collection);
Pearls of the Stage: Legendary Costumes of the first ‘Russian Seasons’ (exhibition at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre);
One-masterpiece exhibition from the Uffizi Gallery: Madonna della Loggia by Sandro Botticelli, an Italian master of the Renaissance. Between 3 and 5 September, the painting was exhibited at the Forum venue, and starting from 8 September will be exhibited in the Grand Hall of the Primorye State Art Gallery;
Don Quixote ballet and Gala concert of the winners of the 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition from the Asia-Pacific countries at the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, launch of Day of Indian Culture in Russia;
Poadway VS Hollywood show programme in Primorye Regional Philharmonic involving pop singers;
2nd Festival of Cultures and Arts ‘Constellation of the Far East’;
Days of Yakut Cinema.
Vladivostok’s leading museums and Primorsky Aquarium were available to EEF guests.
Sporting programme
15 events were held under the Forum’s sporting programme.
The central sporting event of EEF 2019 was the Jigoro Kano International Judo Tournament under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe, the President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga, and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Leaders and legends of the sporting world took part in the EEF sports and business programme – the President of FIFA Gianni Infantino, the Deputy General Director of the IOC Pere Miro, the President of the NOC of Japan and Olympic Judo Champion Yasuhiro Yamashita, the President of the NOC of Korea and IOC Member Lee Ki-Heung, the President of the International Judo Federation Marius Wieser, the Vice President of the NOC of China and IOC Member Li Lingwei, the Sports Director of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and Olympic Champion Hammer Throwing Koji Murofushi, and the Three-Time Greco-Roman Wrestling Olympic Champion Aleksandr Karelin.
The respective Presidents of the Olympic Committees of Russia and Japan Stanislav Pozdnyakov and Yasuhiro Yamashita signed a cooperation agreement at the Russian Olympic Committee venue located on the embankment of Vladivostok and dedicated to the 1980 Olympics. Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin kicked off the construction of an ice sports centre, where the Russian curling team will base as its prepares for Beijing 2022. Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov won the race held to support rare animal species in the Far East, which saw the participation of more than 500 people.
The Russian-Japanese House of Sumo opened its doors at the Forum for the first time and played host to a tournament in the absolute weight categories and a showdown between the national teams of Russia and Japan. The debut international mixed martial arts tournament Roscongress Vladivostok Combat Night was held with the support of Telesport Media, culminating in the sensational defeat of Alexander Shlemenko by the American Chris Honeycutt.
The sporting programme also included the following events:
Roscongress Rosich Cup gala soccer match
WTC Pacific Ocean Cup stage of the World Curling Tour
Curling tournament for participants of the EEF Roscongress Cup
10th Youth Sports Games of the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region under the patronage of UNESCO
Roscongress Cup. Platu-25 sailing regatta
Colmar Coal Mining Company international mas-wrestling tournament
International Go tournament for the cup of the 5th anniversary of the Eastern Economic Forum
Gala hockey match between the teams EEF and Primorye Territory Administration
International football match between the teams Luch (Vladivostok, Russia) and Cobalt (Osaka, Japan)
Exhibitions
Four exhibitions and three photo exhibitions were held at EEF 2019.
1. The exhibition of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and Arctic presented its 15 key services for investors provided by the development institutions of the Far East, under which investors can obtain help to select optimal state support measures, acquire a body of water for aquaculture, obtain an e-visa to the Far East, obtain affordable loan for SMEs, and more.
2. The ‘Welcome to the Far East’ exhibition showcased the results of the work of government agencies over the last 5 years and the prospects for the development of the Far East under the National Programme 2025. The federal executive authorities were represented at the exhibition:
Ministry of Industry and Trade
Ministry of Transport
Rospotrebnadzor
Ministry of Natural Resources and the environment of the Russian Federation
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Health
Rostourism, the Kemerovo Oblast and the Prosecutor General of Russia
3. The exhibition Business Areas for EEF 2019 Partners, Including Media Partners, showcased the status and achievements of EEF partner companies and played host to negotiations and interviews. The partners represented at the exhibition included RusHydro, NK Rosneft, Russian Export Centre, Gazprom, Sberbank, DVMP/Fesco, Gazprombank, VEB.RF, Rosatom, Russian Agricultural Bank, VTB Bank, Far East Development Fund, SME Bank and Russian Railways. The media sponsors included Russia 24, TASS, RT, Forbes, Kommersant, Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Rossiya Segodnya, RBC, Rambler (Lenta.ru, Newspaper.ru, RNS), CGTN, and CNBC.
4. The ‘Women in contemporary paintings by artists of the Far East Federal District. Madonnas of the Far East’ exhibition presented 11 paintings of women by artists of the Far East.
5. Forum photo exhibitions
The ‘Pavlik: the golden vista of Kolyma’ photography exhibition showcased the main gold mining facilities at the company PAVLIK in Kolyma, which was created from scratch and in record-peaking time became a top-10 gold mining company in Russia.
The ‘10 Wonders of the Far East’ photography exhibition showcased the amazing nature of the Far East: 10 nature reserves and national parks.
At the Russia and China: 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Commemorative exhibition, the Russian Historical Society presented a collection of archival documents and photographs depicting the history of the development of cooperation between the two cultures and civilizations over the last 400 years.
The India Lounge opened its doors at EEF. It showcased the benefits of bilateral cooperation through important economic and strategic initiatives and the potential for investment, promoted Indian investments in the Russian Far East, and offered Russian investors the opportunity to consider the potential for growth in India.
Also, a number of thematic zones were set up at the EEF 2019 exhibition venue.
The ‘Healthy Life’ Area attracted representatives of the medical and scientific communities present at the Forum. The area played host to the events of the ‘Healthy Life’ programme, which were included in the general business track on healthcare at the Eastern Economic Forum.
In the ‘Healthy Life’ Area the Smart Mini-Clinic was showcased, a hypid form of medical care which combines offline and online examinations with dedicated medics from remote partner clinics. A mini-stand was presented with the project #Sberteam100 years, where visitors could take an interactive test ‘How old are you really: find out your biological age’ and undergo a cardiovascular screening that identifies the risk of a heart attack and stroke. The area also hosted the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the FSBI National Medical Research Radiology Centre of the Ministry of Healthcare, LLC International Medical Consulting Company and the Japanese company Medical Tourism Japan on the establishment of a modern ion therapy centre in Russia.
The Building Trust Area is a unique platform combining two Roscongress Foundation projects, the Innovation Space and the Innosocium LAB. It gives representatives of the government, business, non-profit organizations and the scientific community the opportunity to network freely. At EEF 2019 the area played host to discussions, round tables, workshops for non-profits, mentoring rooms for young entrepreneurs, the Open-talk ‘From Zero to a Billion ...’ for founders and CEOs of successful technology start-ups, and a BusinessPriority pitch session where high-tech start-up project and winners of the eponymous competition held under the Innovation Space project were presented.
Roscongress & Governors’ Club
The Forum hosted the Roscongress & Governors’ Club, a private club for the business and political elite to network and conduct business negotiations in a relaxed atmosphere. At the club, 63 meetings were held with the participation of the heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, representatives of the federal executive bodies and large companies, Russian and international public and educational organizations. One event was held in the common area (presentation of the Valdai Club book).
Expert and analytical support for the Forum
The Information and Analytical System of the Roscongress Foundation continued to develop its Summary service, a joint effort by the Roscongress Foundation and the Russian News Agency TASS, which provides readers with a condensed version of key discussions, describing the key conclusions, problems, and solutions mentioned therein. Altogether at EEF 2019, 70 pief analytical summaries were written, 30 of which have already been posted online as the most important analytical results of the Forum.
An analytical report Results of the Eastern Economic Forum 2019 will be made available on the official website of the event forumvostok.ru and the website of the Roscongress Information and Analytical System roscongress.org.
This year analytics for the Forum were provided by more than 50 experts in the realm of economic sciences, regional and international studies and the digital economy from the Far Eastern Federal University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Regional Economic Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other organizations. They are working on the creation of a set of expert conclusions based on the discussions held under the business programme.
Food and drink
Three free coffee peak areas, one free café and four paid cafés were made available to over 8,500 delegates, media representatives and participants at the EEF 2019 exhibition space, offering hot and cold snacks and refreshments throughout the day. Three restaurants were also open to guests at the FEFU, offering Russian, European and Asian cuisine as well as seafood: Panorama, Deck 12, and Russian Fish House (Federal Agency for Fisheries).
Separate catering areas for media representatives were also in operation at the venue, offering coffee peaks, lunch and dinner in buildings D and G.
In addition, EEF guests and participants had the opportunity to sample seafood and traditional regional dishes at the ‘Far East Street’ exhibition, which was home to the Taiga Trades & Crafts pavilion and the Fish Market. In total, 18.5 tonnes of produce were delivered to the venue, including berries, seafood, wild plants, honey, teas, preserved food, mushrooms and meats. Over 3,000 servings of food and 1,500 smoothies were prepared for sale and tasting sessions at the pavilion and the Fish Market every day.
Hotel accommodation
8,500 hotel rooms were prepared for EEF guests. 1,700 of these were at hotels in Vladivostok, while over 4,700 rooms were made available at the Far Eastern Federal University campus.
Some Forum participants also stayed on the Costa Venezia luxury cruise ship. The modern vessel was set afloat in March 2019. 2,116 comfort class cabins of various categories were made available to accommodate guests. The cruise ship, which is split across 14 decks, offers five-star hotel standard accommodation.
In addition to those staying on the Costa Venezia, all participants and guests of EEF 2019 were able to make use of the ship’s infrastructure.
In total, Vladivostok’s hospitality infrastructure accommodated 8,460 people.
Transport
Readying Vladivostok’s urban transport infrastructure is one of the central tasks of the preliminary and main events of the Eastern Economic Forum. The number of participants has grown over the last five years and, accordingly, demands on transportation services have increased, including in terms of efficiency and quality.
The Forum’s long-standing partner Hyundai Motor CIS served as Official Car of the Forum. 215 cars, including 160 Genesis G80 executive sedans and 55 Hyundai H1 minivans were provided for the transportation of Forum guests and participants.
An extensive shuttle bus system has now been developed, connecting the airport, Vladivostok Marine Terminal and hotels in Vladivostok to the Forum venue, the FEFU, and the host venues of the sporting and cultural programme events.
The Costa Venezia cruise ship was not only one of the key locations of the cultural and sporting events, but also one of the main venues for accommodating guests. For the first time, airport–FEFU and Vladivostok Marine Terminal–FEFU shuttle buses were organized for guests staying on the Costa Venezia cruise ship.
The work of Vladivostok International Airport, the air travel gateway to the Eastern Economic Forum, deserves special mention for its coordination and high standards. Facing difficult weather conditions and working at the limit of its capacity, the airport was able to ensure that flight delays were minimal and services rendered to passengers were high-class. The rerouting of traffic at the forecourt meant that congestion was reduced at the airport entrances and exits.
Forum guests were also able to use accredited taxi services offered by Primtaxi.
Volunteers
Around 600 volunteers from Vladivostok, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk and Chelyabinsk participated in the Forum. The main role of the volunteers was to offer service support to participants.
Venue
The main events of the Eastern Economic Forum 2019 took place at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus on Russky Island (Ajax, Vladivostok). The FEFU is a major venue for communication between the expert communities of Russia and the Asia-Pacific countries.
Organizer
The organizer of the Forum is the Roscongress Foundation, a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of international conventions, exhibitions and public events.
The key facts and figures from the EEF 2019 are available as a visual infographic on the event page in the ROSCONGRESS.ORG Information and Analytical System
