The Russian petrochemical industry had to grapple with a number of difficulties in 2022. There were predictions back in spring that the industry could face a deep crisis, however, it managed to persevere and even implement several key projects. The search for new sales markets in Asia, the optimization of delivery routes to this region due to the growing capacity of Russia’s eastern railway domain, active import substitution, and state support measures were all factors in restructuring the traditional export business model, which resulted in only a 3.2% reduction in petrochemical production, while exports declined by 25%. The petrochemical industry is projected to grow at a rate of more than 4% per year over the next 15 years, although the structure of oil consumption will change and the industry will continue to focus on the domestic market. At present, one of the main tasks in which it would make sense for the state to be involved is assistance in financing and accelerating the speed of approval procedures. How have various projects survived the first year of sanctions? What needs to be done to improve the competitiveness of the Russian petrochemical industry? How has the global crisis affected the international LNG market and how is the LNG market projected to develop over the next decade? What is the current status of technologies being replaced? What benefits can Russia offer to friendly countries?

Moderator:
Daria Kozlova — Head of Analytical, Russian Energy Agency of the Russian Federation

Panellists:
Darya Borisova — Member of the Board – Managing Director for Development and Innovations, SIBUR
Vitaly Korolev — Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation
Vitaly Markelov — Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, Member of the Board of Directors, Gazprom
Andrey Nikipelov — Deputy General Director for Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Solutions, State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom
Denis Nozdrachev — General Director, InfraVEB
Evgeny Petrov — Head, Federal Agency for Subsoil Use
Mikhail Sutyaginskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Titan Group of Companies

Front row participants:
Alexander Zakharov — General Director, United Oil and Gas Company
Stanislav Neverov — General Director, East Arctic Oil and Gas Corporation
Pavel Puzanov — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Amur Region

According to the World Bank, a little over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are produced annually. By 2050, this is expected to grow by 1.5 times – up to 3.4 billion tonnes. Russians contribute 50–60 million tonnes to this amount every year. In the last 10 years, the volume of waste has more than doubled in Russia, with an additional 0.4 million hectares of waste per year. Internal threats to environmental safety have made it necessary to develop a new model of production and consumption – a circular economy, including the transformation of the current waste management system as a priority condition for sustainable development in the country. What has already been done and what remains to be done to create an effective solid waste management system and a circular economy in the Far East? What can the government offer to hedge investor risks? What is the role of extended producer responsibility in waste management? Economics and the environment: how can we create a safe infrastructure to safeguard the natural ecosystems of the Far East? International cooperation: what experience has been gained in waste management and what can we learn from China and India? The digitalization of the solid waste management industry in the Far East and its contribution to strengthening Russia's technological sovereignty. What is the potential for and importance of introducing IT solutions into the region on the example of the APRO automated information system?

Moderator:
Kirill Tokarev — Editor-in-Chief, Anchor, RBC

Panellists:
Igor Bailen — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Russian Federation
Denis Butsayev — General Director, Russian Environmental Operator Public Law Company
Vitaly Korolev — Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation
Sergey Kotlyarenko — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Citymatic
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Mikhail Chachin — Vice President, Sberbank

Front row participant:
Artem Sedov — General Director, The Big Three (Bolshaya Troyka)

The national programmes for the development of economic sectors being implemented in Russia, which include large-scale projects in housing and utilities, construction, the automotive industry and medicine, are significantly increasing the role of the country’s technological sovereignty in the field of polymer processing. Growth rates in the development of domestic polymer processing currently lag behind the pace of imports of finished products. The underutilization of processors’ capacity, excluding promising projects, stands at 24%, providing the potential for the additional production of high value-added products at the level of 690,000 tonnes per year. The market model, where demand determines supply, precludes the active development of technological sovereignty, and thus the technological leadership of the industry and country as a whole. The current drivers of growth are the import substitution of polymers and finished products, although this is a time-limited trend. A key condition for the progressive development of complete production chains from basic raw materials to final goods remains an effective combination of incentives at the level of the federal and regional authorities, including a focus on the creation of processing clusters. An additional growth point is the continued development of the use of solutions from recycled polymers with the potential for the production of over 1.5 million tonnes per year of end products in allied sectors. How can we move from simple import substitution to technological sovereignty in the production of polymer products? How can we realize Russia’s development potential in polymer processing? What role can the state play in the creation of processing clusters? How can we effectively stimulate the development of recycling and consumption of secondary polymers?

Moderator:
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners

Panellists:
Darya Borisova — Member of the Board – Managing Director for Development and Innovations, SIBUR
Lev Gorilovskiy — President, Polyplastic Group
Denis Deryushkin — Chief Executive Officer, National Hydrogen Union
Arthur Zhuravlev — Director of Development, EcoLab Technology
Pavel Sorokin — First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

The Russian Far East is home to some of the largest oil and gas fields. It’s also home to two major refineries, one in Khabarovsk and the other in Komsomolsk. LNG is produced and exported. Coal is mined in the region. New HPPs and NPPs are being considered for construction. Electricity consumption has always grown significantly faster in the Far East than the rest of Russia. The Far Eastern Federal District is approximately 40% of our country, meaning energy facilities are located far from one another. How can we see to it that every part of the fuel and energy complex is working for development? What problems need to be resolved for development to happen? What investments will be needed as a result? How can we increase export potential? What experience can we take from our foreign colleagues, and what can we share in return? And how should we set up work in a region with such difficult prevailing weather conditions?

Moderator:
Alexandra Suvorova — Anchor, Russia 24 TV Channel

Panellists:
Pavel Barilo — Executive Director, Siberian Generation Company
Chen Guoping — Executive Vice President, State Grid Corporation of China
Kirill Komarov — First Deputy General Director, Director of the Development and International Business Unit, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Vitaly Markelov — Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee, Member of the Board of Directors, Gazprom
Fedor Opadchy — Chairman of the Board, System Operator of the United Power System
Andrey Ryumin — General Director, Chairman of the Management Board, Rosseti
Mikhail Khardikov — Operations Director, En+ Group
Nikolay Shulginov — Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

In 2023, the Russian automotive market underwent significant changes. This transformation was mainly driven by the expansion of Chinese brands, the introduction of new Russian brands based on Chinese platforms, and the development of domestic capabilities. Nevertheless, achieving the strategic goals of the industry's growth will require answers to many new questions. How should cooperation between Russian automakers and companies from the Asia-Pacific Region be structured? What forms and requirements should underpin this collaboration? Which technologies and components should take precedence in the upcoming decade for development, import substitution, and localization? Where should the primary efforts in transportation be focused? Are there effective scenarios for establishing original Russian platforms, and what might be the cluster development policy across different regions of Russia, including the Far East?

Moderator:
Andrey Tomyshev — Partner, Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Leader in Consulting, Technologies and Transactions, B1 Group

Panellists:
Sergey Gromak — Vice President for External Affairs and Shareholder Relations, AVTOVAZ
Zoya Kaika — Deputy Director General, SOLLERS (online)
Maxim Kalinkin — General Director, Gazprombank Leasing
Anatoly Kiyashko — Director for Interaction with Government Authorities and Corporate Partners, KAMA Automobile Company
Denis Nozdrachev — General Director, InfraVEB
Alexey Podshchekoldin — President, Russian Automobile Dealers Association (ROAD) (online)

Along with the new opportunities that arise for Russian companies as they turn to the East, they face a number of challenges related to the global disengagement and withdrawal of Western businesses from Russia. In today’s conditions, it is far more difficult to maintain the steps and efforts required to advance the climate agenda in Russia. Decarbonization can be continued together with new partners and with the help of new projects in the East and in the Asia–Pacific countries. Cooperation with China is becoming very promising. What challenges and opportunities from the point of view of carbon regulation does the turn to the East bring for companies? How will companies’ strategies alter due to the need to adapt to these changes today?

Moderator:
Andrey Sharonov — Chief Executive Officer, National ESG-Alliance

Panellists:
Irina Bakhtina — Director of Sustainable Development, RUSAL
Tatiana Zavyalova — Senior Vice President for ESG, Sberbank (online)
Igor Makarov — Head of the Laboratory for the Economics of Climate Change, National Research University Higher School of Economics (online)
Vadim Moskvichev — Director, Vanino Forestry Center
Elena Myakotnikova — Director of Climate Initiatives and Carbon Management, SIBUR
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya — First Vice President, Gazprombank
Ilya Torosov — First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Yuliya Shabala — Deputy General Director for Sustainable Development and Corporate Affairs, Udokan Copper
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Front row participant:
Alexey Zhikharev — Director, Russia Renewable Energy Development Association; Director, ENSOLVE

Closed cities are outposts for Russia in the literal and figurative sense. This is crucial to the country’s development, defence, and technological independence. Given their specific nature, closed cities have historically been home to people with unique expertise as well as intellectual and human capital. One of the top priorities for closed cities to develop and function has always been to provide the population with the proper level of support and social infrastructure. Greater social and infrastructural support for closed cities is not an end in itself, but a way to preserve and develop the high level of human and technological capital that has historically been accumulated in these unique cities. There are space cities. There are science cities. There are other centres of high technologies, military and civil. Their key focus is human potential. Russia is counting on them to regain its global scientific and technological leadership. Particular attention should be paid to strongholds in the Far East and the Arctic zone. The size of the population alone is not crucial in this case. Even small settlements or small towns can be of strategic importance for the country. How can we build a development strategy for closed cities and create the proper conditions for their long-term sustainable development as territories with significant state interests, while also ensuring the national security, technological leadership, and sovereignty of the Russian Federation?

Moderator:
Sergey Rybakov — Chief of Staff to the Chairman, All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation (VOOP)

Panellists:
Alexey Golubev — Advisor to the General Director, Rusatom Infrastructure Solutions, Rosatom State Corporation
Sergey Ermolenko — Chairman of the Board, ZATO Development Assistance Association (online)
Vladislav Kuznetsov — Acting Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Region (online)
Olesya Nosova — Editor-in-Chief, General Director, Publishing House Komsomolskaya Pravda
Alexander Sergeev — Scientific Supervisor, National Center for Physics and Mathematics (NCFM)
Vyacheslav Fetisov — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Goodwill Ambassador, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Chairman, All-Russian Society of Nature Conservation (online)

Inbound Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities in a New Reality
In the years before the pandemic, Russia traditionally ranked as one of the world's most-visited countries, welcoming over 24 million foreign tourists annually and generating an annual income of USD 11 billion for its economy. The Far Eastern region played a significant role in the development of the inbound tourism economy, contributing up to 8% of foreign arrivals. This growth was primarily driven by tourists from Asia-Pacific countries, and it was undoubtedly facilitated by accessible transport links, simplified visa requirements, as well as the presence of unique natural and recreational resources. Having lost up to 80% of tourist traffic during the pandemic, the Far Eastern Federal District is gradually reaching pre-pandemic levels and setting ambitious goals of doubling tourist traffic to 7–8 million tourists by 2030. The region is making a significant effort to attract foreign tourists, aiming to achieve the necessary level of service, create universal year-round resorts, and develop various tourist formats – from beach and sports to ethnographic and gastronomic, as well as environmental and event tourism. Today, the development of inbound tourism is one of the strategic directions of state policy and one of the conditions for the advanced development and sustainability of the economy in Russia and the regions. What is needed for the capitalization of Russia's tourism potential, including the example of the Far East, our country's large tourist macro-region? What new opportunities exist for the development of inbound tourism in Russia in modern conditions? What support measures and incentives are required to increase the tourist flow to Russia? Which aspects of industry development, formats, and types of tourism should be focused on in the medium and long term? How can we maximize the economic and investment potential?

Moderator:
Aleksandr Sirchenko — Deputy General Director, Fun&Sun

Panellists:
Dmitriy Bakanov — Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation
Sun Guizhen — Secretary-General of the China Association of Travel Services (online)
Lu Yingchuan — Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China (video message)
Arseny Krepsky — Head of the Primorsky Krai Tourism Agency
Thet Thet Khine — Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism of the Government of Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Michael Lopez Rama — Mayor of the City of Cebu, Republic of the Philippines
Maksim Reshetnikov — Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Ilya Umansky — President, Russian Union of Travel Industry; General Director, National tour operator “Alean”

Front row participants:
Александр Бардалеев — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Trans-Baikal Territory - Minister of Economic Development of the Trans-Baikal Territory
Aleksey Vasilchenko — General Director, Eastern Gates of the Country
Aleksey Geleta — Head of Digital Compliance Group, Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation
Oxana Leonenko — General Manager of The Carlton Moscow
Tatyana Polovaikina — First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Amur Region
Vladimir Rusanov — Minister of Tourism of Kamchatka Territory
Charlie Than — Union Minister of the Republic of Myanmar
Daw Than Than Swe — Governor, Central Bank of Myanmar
Timur Handy — Minister of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

At the start of 2015, the development of preferential regimes in the Far East began: the Advanced Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) and the Free Port of Vladivostok (FPV) regime. Today, the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF), the Special Administrative Region on Russky Island (SAR), and the Kuril Islands of the Russian Federation (RKI) have been added. Amid a dynamically changing foreign policy and economic environment, business support mechanisms are being improved, new tools are being developed, and the conditions of existing preferences are being improved. These mechanisms should also be improved in terms of making them more client-centred and simplifying administrative procedures. The measures may boost the development of internal competition for investors. What are the best practices in investor support, including in the case of foreign territories? How can the Far Eastern Federal District provide the best conditions for doing business in Russia? What areas of support are the most effective and in demand among investors in today’s conditions? What changes to the existing preferential regimes should be made in the Far East?

Moderator:
Nikolay Zapryagaev — General Director, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Panellists:
Dmitry Vakhrukov — Deputy Minister Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Denis Gros — Coordinator for the Far Eastern Federal District, All-Russian public organization "Business Russia"; Managing Partner, DA! Development
Anastasia Permyakova — Deputy Head, Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation; Member, Expert Council under the Government of the Russian Federation
Maria Perova — Director of the Department for Development of Priority Territories of the Far East and Arctic, Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and Arctic
Ivan Smirnov — Deputy Director General for Economics and Finance, Inter RAO - Management of Electric Power Plants
Natalya Trunova — Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Xue Hailong — Executive President, Xuan Yuan Industrial Development
Mikhail Khardikov — Operations Director, En+ Group
Nikolay Kharitonov — Chairman of the Committee on the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Valery Tsivilev — General Director, Coal Mining Company “Kolmar”
Mikhail Yurchuk — Deputy CEO for Government Relations, Atlas Mining

Developing the Far East is strategically important. The territory has enormous potential for economic growth and investment attraction. The Far East could become a pilot scheme for attracting ‘green’ and environmentally friendly investments. Two-thirds of Russia is covered by permafrost. Implementing projects in these conditions requires special consideration in the face of climate change. How is the Far East adapting to global climate change? How may we assess the situation and manage to adapt to the devastating consequences in time? How may we combine the efforts of business and government? Are the decisions taken sufficient? In the global climate change situation of 2021, Russia, China, and India declared their readiness to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060–2070. Carbon neutrality: a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and their absorption by land ecosystems. What measures are the governments and businesses of countries taking to address this issue? The Far East also plays an important role in preserving biodiversity and the ecological balance in the Asia–Pacific region. The region is actively implementing the Deep Clean federal project, which addresses the problem of recovering shipwrecks that have not been removed for a number of years. This will not only expand coastal space, but also transform the already picturesque landscapes of the Far Eastern ports. What has been accomplished? What plans does the region set itself?

Moderator:
Sergey Brilev — President, The Global Energy Association

Panellists:
Vyacheslav Alenkov — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region
Sergey Anoprienko — Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
Roman Berdnikov — First Deputy General Director, Member of the Management Board, RusHydro
Andrey Grachev — Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs, Norilsk Nickel
Kirill Komarov — First Deputy General Director, Director of the Development and International Business Unit, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Vladimir Solodov — Governor of Kamchatka Territory

Front row participants:
Bogdan Bulychev — Traveler, Blogger, Producer
Kirill Bychkov — First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Andrey Nagibin —

Statistics from recent years reveal that the Far Eastern and Siberian Federal Districts are systematically prone to natural fires and floods, resulting in loss of life, damage to the state's economy, and harm to the environment. Forest fires, the deterioration of infrastructure due to changes in soil load-bearing capacity, and heavy downpours lead to annual tragedies and economic losses. For instance, the emergency situation in August-September of this year in Primorsky Territory alone has already caused damage to the regional economy exceeding RUB 7.3 billion to date. What are the causes of such damage, and could it have been prevented? What materials and technologies should be used for the construction of transportation, housing, communal, and other infrastructure to protect the population and territories, as well as to minimize possible damage from emergencies? How are natural and man-made emergencies forecasted?

Moderator:
Aleksandr Bekker — Scientific Director of the Institute, Far Eastern Federal University; Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor

Panellists:
Alexander Bondar — Director of the Department of Educational and Scientific and Technical Activities, Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters
Evgeny Grabchak — Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation
Vadim Nikanorov — Deputy Head, Federal Water Resources Agency
Irina Oltyan — Head, All-Russian Research Institute for Civil Defenсe and Emergencies of the Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters of the Russian Federation
Alexander Osipov — Governor of Trans-Baikal Territory
Elena Parkhomenko — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory

Front row participant:
Andrey Makarov — Head of Directorate, Amur Basin Water Directorate of the Federal Water Resources Agency

The Far East has great investment potential. During the day, project initiators presented their proposals to potential investors, lenders, and regional representatives. In this session, experts will discuss the results of the day and assess the potential for economic growth in the Far East. What are the development priorities in the Russian Far East today? How do investment projects enhance people's quality of life?

Moderator:
Mikhail Khomich — Managing Director for International Development, VEB.RF; Special Projects Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects (ASI)

Panellists:
Maksim Oreshkin — Aide to the President of the Russian Federation
Igor Shuvalov — Chairman, VEB.RF

More and more tourists are visiting the Far East every year: the Far Eastern Federal District is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, approximately 60% of the country’s protected areas, and its longest stretch of coastline. In 2021, the flow of tourists into the Far East had already surpassed pre-pandemic levels by more than 10%, and in 2023 exceeded the average Russian growth rate by 35%. However, trips to the Far Eastern Federal District remain but a small portion of those in the country as a whole at just under 5%. International tourism, which used to account for up to 15% of tourists to the Far East before the pandemic, is beginning to recover. Cross-border tourist routes, a single electronic visa, and open air and sea borders will all contribute to an inflow of tourists from abroad and the creation of new investment projects. By 2030, the total number of tourists visiting the Far Eastern Federal District may double, requiring an increase of at least 150% in the number of available rooms. Unique conditions have been created in the macro-region to attract new investors and increase the scale of business being conducted: every tenth project implemented with state support is related to tourism, and the Far East tourism plan has called for the creation of a further 12 investment projects. However, the cost of building a hotel in the Far East differs from the cost of building one in central Russia. At the same time, the fragile ecosystems of the Far East are the ones most vulnerable in the face of increasing tourism. How can we unlock the potential of eco-tourism as a tool for investment and preservation of natural reserves as humans increasingly alter nature. How can hospitality infrastructure in the Far East cope as the number of visitors to the macro-region continues to increase every year? How can we retain staff and increase the profitability of accommodations in the Far East in a difficult climatic season? What goals should be achieved in the development of tourism and hospitality in Russia and the Far East by 2030?

Moderator:
Bogdan Bulychev — Traveler, Blogger, Producer

Panellists:
Sergey Aramilev — General Director, Amur Tiger Centre Autonomous Non-Profit Organization
Dmitry Vakhrukov — Deputy Minister Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Maria Zakharova — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Alexey Karakhan — Traveler
Sergey Krasnoperov — Executive Director, Corporation Tourism.RF
Elena Krylova — Founder, Interior Design Studio Elena Krylova
Anton Perin — Senior Banker, VEB.RF
Igor Sivets — Deputy General Director for Business Development, Tutu.ru
Ruslan Terekbayev — President, Legend Hotels Group

Front row participants:
Александр Бардалеев — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Trans-Baikal Territory - Minister of Economic Development of the Trans-Baikal Territory
Konstantin Styrin — Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Russian Agricultural Bank

The fishery industry in the Far East is currently undergoing a renewal of its production and processing capacities. The primary driver for this renewal is the implementation of a quota-based incentive system in exchange for investments. Thanks to this resource-based mechanism, the Far East fishery basin has witnessed the construction of 14 high-tech fish processing plants, five fishing vessels, and five crab trawlers. What will the rules be for the second phase of the investment quota mechanism? What will it entail? Has work been done to rectify the mistakes? The multiplied financial and regulatory burden on fishermen must be taken into account, and a balance is needed. What do fishermen think? The time has come for import substitution opportunities in the industry, the creation of domestic independent production facilities, and the establishment of reliable foreign partnerships that are not subject to outside influence. The primary focus of the Far East fishery is the domestic market. The traditional mechanisms of market saturation are no longer applicable, and it is unacceptable for aquatic bioresource pricing on the country's trade shelves to be currency-dependent. Aquaculture serves as a robust driver of growth, and reforms are imperative.

Moderator:
Alexander Panin — Chairman, 'Fish Union' Non-Profit Organization

Panellists:
Roman Vityazev — Chairman, Far Eastern Union of Mariculture Enterprises; Chairman, Hyperion
Andrey Grechkin — General Director, Dalreftrans
Khasan Likhov — Deputy Head, Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo)
Georgy Martynov — President, Association of Fishery Enterprises of Primorye Territory
Sergey Mironov — Chairman, Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers of Russia (FRiO)
Olga Morozova — Director for Commerce and Development, Lenta
Olga Naumova — General Director, Russian Fishery Company
Olesya Popova — Business Development Director, Founder, Food Team
Oleg Ryabov — Director of "Fish" Department, Globus
Vladimir Solodov — Governor of Kamchatka Territory
Sergey Tarusov — Chairman, Lenin Collective Farm Fishery
Ilya Chernov — Director of the Investment Development Department, Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

The global situation with economic and foreign policy has significantly increased the interest of foreign companies with Russian participation in Special Administrative Regions (SARs). Each year sees a new record for the number of companies switching jurisdiction to the Russian Federation and becoming SAR participants: between 2020 and August 2023, the number of participants registered in the SAR on Russky Island had increased from 2 to 61. In addition, a number of fundamental changes to Russian law are planned for approval in 2023 to allow companies to de-offshore through mechanisms other than redomiciliation. How has the SAR on Russky Island been trending over the past year and what are the results? How do SAR participants affect the development of the region? What changes in legislation have been adopted / will be adopted to make it easier for business to return to Russia? What risks do companies redomiciling face and what are the alternatives? Are companies happy in the SAR?

Moderator:
Marina Belyakova —

Panellists:
Alexey Vostokov — Chief Executive Officer, Polyus
Nikolay Zhuravlev — Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Alexander Iodchin — Director for Strategy and Development, Global Ports Management Company
Nikolay Stetsko — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory
Ilya Torosov — First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Andrey Tolmachev — General Director, Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation
Pavel Sheika — Director of Department for Special Administrative Region Support, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation

The use of LesEGAIS has made it possible to trace the fate of each tree, to create transparency in the supply chain from harvesting areas to the end consumer, and to streamline the work of various regional and federal agencies. The state is not standing still and continues to advance the digitalization of the forest complex, but there is an obstacle in the form of outdated forest inventory materials. These materials hinder not only the government but also businesses, which are unable to obtain forest land for lease. The reshuffling of global timber industry flows results in increased logistics costs and, consequently, reduced revenue from timber sales. Within these processes, there is a need for government support in developing transport routes and assisting businesses in adapting to current conditions while maintaining jobs and the tax efficiency of enterprises. How can we address the problem of a lack of information on forestry and streamline operations through digitization? How to increase the investment appeal of the industry? What does business lack? What support measures are required from the government? What should we start, and what should we continue?

Moderator:
Alla Sbitneva — Project Director, Sberbank

Panellists:
Oleg Bocharov — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Dmitrii Dobrynin — Vice President, New Forest Pro (online)
Evgenii Korzh — Director, Eco Toys
Nikolay Krotov — Deputy General Director, Arkhangelsk PPM
Vladimir Krylov — Deputy Director, St. Petersburg State Forest Technical University (online)
Viacheslav Spirenkov — Deputy Head, Federal Forestry Agency
Konstantin Stepanov — Minister of Forestry and Protection of Wildlife of the Primorsky Krai

The development of fishing in the exclusive economic zones of foreign countries and on the high seas using a modern fishing fleet with integrated raw material processing capabilities is one of the main objectives of the industry. In 2022, Russian fishermen harvested about 580 thousand tonnes outside the Russian EEZ – in convention and open waters of the World Ocean (minus 12% compared to the 2021 level). According to industry science, the raw material base of Russian fisheries outside the national exclusive economic zone allows to catch up to 2 million tonnes in the medium term only under existing international treaties. Russia is currently undergoing a large-scale reform of the fishing industry – renewal of the fleet and processing facilities. In this regard, it is important to create conditions for economic interest in using the new Russian fleet in the open waters of the World Ocean. It is obvious that fishing outside Russian waters is a strategically significant and economically promising direction for the development of the Russian fishing industry. Expansion of oceanic fishing, along with geopolitical interest, will help consolidate Russia's status as a leading fishing power. What opportunities does the Russian fishing fleet currently have? Is there any business motivation? What fishing areas are of interest to Russian companies? State support tools (fuel subsidies, subsidizing the construction of krill and tuna boats) – what will really work?

Moderator:
Anton Borisov — Anchor, Russia 24 TV Channel

Panellists:
Andrey Grechkin — General Director, Dalreftrans
Irina Zhachkina — Member of the Board, First Deputy Chairman of the Board, Russian Agricultural Bank
Kirill Kolonchin — Director, The Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO)
Ivan Mikhnov — President, Antey Group of Companies
Ilya Shestakov — Head, Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo)
Mohamed El Hafedh Ejiwen — Director General, Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic Research and Fisheries (IMROP) (online)

Front row participant:
Vladimir Solodov — Governor of Kamchatka Territory

The rapid development of hydrogen technologies around the world raises a number of questions: from Russia’s need to accelerate to the greatest possible extent in an attempt to catch up and overtake the most successful countries in this area, to Russia’s complete rejection of hydrogen as an inauspicious energy source given its large hydrocarbon reserves. Over the last few years, the demand for hydrogen technologies has increased several times over, and it is not going to stop. One of the most developed areas of using hydrogen globally is hydrogen transportation. Russia is intensively developing hydrogen transportation projects in the Far East. The biggest Russian companies are working on the design and implementation of a comprehensive hydrogen project on Sakhalin Island, as part of which there are plans to build and roll out hydrogen transportation infrastructure for road and rail. With government support, a test site is being created on Sakhalin for the development and trialling of hydrogen technologies. What are the specific features of the Russian hydrogen transportation sector in the Far East? Is there a future for hydrogen transportation in Russia? Which hydrogen transportation projects are being implemented in Russia, and what is the role of the state in this? Are Russian hydrogen transportation technologies developing while there are restrictions on importing technology?

Moderator:
Denis Deryushkin — Chief Executive Officer, National Hydrogen Union

Panellists:
Song Liang — General Director, Gezhouba Russ (online)
Tiancai Ma — Vice Executive Secretary, China Hydrogen Alliance (H2CN) (video message)
Denis Nozdrachev — General Director, InfraVEB
Nikolay Odintsov — Vice President for Corporate Sales Development, Bus Division, GAZ Group Managing Company
Evgeny Pakermanov — President, Rusatom Overseas
Pavel Sorokin — First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Vyacheslav Alenkov — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region
Bogdan Kopasovsky — Director for Government Relations and External Communications, H2Invest

Today, Siberia has a special role to play – to become the main driver of Russia's economic development in the new environment. The strategy for socio-economic development of the Siberian Federal District, approved in early 2023, sets ambitious goals to turn Siberia into an accelerated centre of economic growth and a stronghold of the "the pivot to the East". However, Siberia is inextricably linked to the Far East, and the latter one has already accumulated impressive experience in managing the development of a separate macro-region. How to use the experience of the Far East in organizing the management of Siberia's development? Perhaps, it is the creation of the Siberia Development Corporation that will give impetus to the beginning of major changes in the macro-region and will allow financial, managerial, scientific, and socio-cultural tools to be effectively channelled towards growth. What other management know-how can be used, taking into account the successful examples of other regions? What global practices will help achieve the strategy's goals and, at the same time, increase the volume of added value produced, improve the living standards of the population, create a powerful logistics base and, at the same time, a creative economy centre in Siberia? How to integrate the territorial strategies of Siberia, the Far East, and the European part of Russia? What could be a synergy effect from the synchronization of macro-regional strategies? How to turn Siberia into a region attractive for the young, creative, and purposeful to live and work? What does the Far East have to offer in this direction?

Moderator:
Anton Sviridenko — Executive Director, Stolypin Institute for the Economy of Growth

Panellists:
Elena Bezdenezhnykh —
Petr Ivanov — Sociologist, Civil Engineering Laboratory; Author, Editor, Telegram channel "Urbanism as the meaning of life"
Andrey Klepach — Chief Economist, VEB.RF
Evgeny Kogan — Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners
Boris Titov — Presidential Commissioner of the Russian Federation for the Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights
Alexander Uss —

Front row participant:
Mikhail Sutyaginskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Titan Group of Companies

The most important prospective task in the development of the Far East is to create the infrastructure necessary to ensure sustainable growth can take place and investment projects can be implemented effectively. There continues to be a lack of infrastructure in the region, and it is needed for transport and logistics, engineering, and the construction of social facilities. A significant portion of the infrastructure built in the Far Eastern Federal District uses financial support from the state, public-private partnerships, concessions, and project financing. What infrastructure is needed to sustain development? What support tools are needed to accelerate the construction of the necessary infrastructure? What mechanisms and instruments of support are the most effective and most sought after by investors at present? How can existing measures be effectively combined?

Moderator:
Natalya Trunova — Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation

Panellists:
Alexander Aksakov — Director of Infrastructure Bonds Division, DOM.RF
Lev Gorilovskiy — President, Polyplastic Group
Gadzhimagomed Guseynov — First Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Sergei Ivanov — Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation
Valery Tsivilev — General Director, Coal Mining Company “Kolmar”
Mikhail Yurchuk — Deputy CEO for Government Relations, Atlas Mining

Front row participants:
Georgy Fotin — General Director, GDK Baimskaya
Evgeniy Chekin — Chairman of the Government of of Kamchatka Territory
Yuliya Shabala — Deputy General Director for Sustainable Development and Corporate Affairs, Udokan Copper

Agriculture in the Far East is attractive to investors for two reasons. Firstly, it offers enormous export potential with direct access to the Asia-Pacific market, one of the most dynamically developing markets in the world. Secondly, the demand for food products surpasses the available supply. For example, fresh food (fruits, vegetables, etc.) is still not sufficiently represented in the Far Eastern market. The remoteness of the macro-region makes it difficult to deliver perishable products, even from Siberia. The establishment of retail outlets in the Far East region enhances both the physical and economic accessibility of products. Analysts predict that two thousand supermarkets in the form of convenience stores will create a fundamentally new food distribution channel, consequently opening up new opportunities for local entrepreneurs. What additional incentives do local producers require to achieve full self-sufficiency in food production within the Far Eastern Federal District? Which market niches hold the greatest promise in the Far East? In which sectors of the agro-industrial complex is it advantageous to invest? Can the agro-industrial sector become a new driving force for the Far Eastern economy?

Moderator:
Konstantin Boucher — TV and Radio Presenter

Panellists:
Alexey Bezugly — Acting Head of the Department of Industry and Agriculture of the Government of the Jewish Autonomous Region
Andrei Bronts — Minister of Agriculture of the Primorsky Territory
Ekaterina Gavrilova — Head of Government Relations Office, X5 Group Far East
Alexander Efremov — General Director, Yuzhmorrybflot
Dmitriy Zhilyakov — Head of Industry and Technological Expertise Directorate, Russian Agricultural Bank
Stepan Inyutochkin — General Director, Target Agro
Valery Miroshkin — Vice President, Ecoculture Group of Companies (online)
Abdurazak Razakov — Director of Agriculture, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Alexey Tkachev — General Director, Ratimir
Oleg Turkov — Minister of Agriculture of Amursky Territory
Evgeny Shestyuk — General Director, Myasoopttorg