The Decade of Science and Technology declared by the Russian president has not only become an integral part of state policy, as manifested in a variety of initiatives, but also an effective tool for the development of high-tech companies. Large companies have been actively involved since the start of the Decade of Science and Technology through thematic initiatives, with Rosatom State Corporation serving as the pioneer. Now the list of partners is expanding. In particular, in June 2024, agreements were signed with United Engine Corporation, Uralchem, the Skolkovo Foundation, and the Roscosmos State Corporation at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The results of scientists’ activities and products made using new technologies should play an increasingly larger role in society and aim to solve the most pressing development problems throughout the country. What tools does the Decade of Science and Technology provide to companies for this purpose? What issues are companies able to solve by becoming involved in the Decade of Science and Technology? How and why should companies join these thematic initiatives?

Recruiting and retaining talent is a key condition for the successful development of the regional economy. Creativity, innovation, and uniqueness are the criteria based on which talented people work. The struggle to find talent is paramount to the success of Russia’s regions and ensuring high living standards and economic stability. Regions can only ensure high indicators of socioeconomic development in the future by attracting talented young people and preserving their own intellectual potential. What is talent? How should we be working with talented youth? How can we increase the number of talented people? What conditions need to be created for people to preserve intellectual potential throughout their lives? What makes talented people so powerful and how can they influence the development of regions?

Moderator:
Hasan Hasanbalayev — Executive Director for Social Development, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Speakers:
Vitaly Altuhov — Co-Founder, Director of Research and Development, Profilum
Andrey Betin — Rector, Senezh Management Workshop
Maxim Dreval — General Director, Russian "Znanie" Society
Anatoly Nikolaev — Rector, Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University
Natalya Tretyak — General Director, Prosveshcheniye

Front row participants:
Sergey Davydov — General Director, Good Ecology
Dmitriy Korenkov — General Director, New Technologies of Security Organizations Peresvet

In recent years, Russia and China have significantly expanded bilateral trade and economic relations. Rapid growth has been seen in bilateral trade and investment cooperation, regional and cross-border relations have intensified, and the Russian and Chinese business communities have shown a greater interest in mutual cooperation. The Chinese market is enormous and has a large number of solvent consumers. The number of Russian SMEs that export goods, services, or components to China is currently on the rise. What economic potential exists for interaction between Russian and Chinese SMEs? What is the current level of trade turnover between Russia and China? What do Russian entrepreneurs usually export to China and what measures have helped them increase turnover? What difficulties do entrepreneurs face when promoting products from the Russian Federation? What is the most effective way to further develop SMEs? Where are the most promising markets right now? What logistical and infrastructural opportunities are available for entering the Chinese market?

Moderator:
Alexander Kalinin — President, All‑Russian Non‑Governmental Organization of Small and Medium‑Sized Businesses OPORA RUSSIA

Speakers:
Igor Vetryuk — General Director, Well Way
Ilona Gorsheneva-Dolunts — Director, Owner, InterBiz Trade and Logistics Company
Alexander Zainigabdinov — Head of the Beijing office of China Window Consulting Group, arbitrator of the Shanghai International Arbitration Center
Alexey Maslov — Director, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University

A global trend whereby different regions compete amongst themselves to attract national and international direct investment, seek increased tourism to revive the regional economy, and create and strengthen a favourable image of themselves for external and internal stakeholders is likewise revealing itself in the Russian Federation. The potential for regional development, cultural and creative, is a significant factor. How does the annual choice of a national cultural capital affect cultural diversity in the regions and their ability to compete? What additional resources do the winners of the competition gain for the development of their creative economy? What does a city, region, even country need to promote themselves and raise their status internationally? What other projects promote the cultural leadership of cities and regions in the Russian Far East and Arctic?

Moderator:
Nikolay Novichkov — Member of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Speakers:
Olga Zakharova — Director, Urban Economy Division, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects (ASI)
Isa Ibragimov — Minister of Culture of the Chechen Republic
Marina Mishunkina — First Deputy General Director, Argumenty i Facty
Rustam Romanenkov — Chief Executive Officer, Center for Arctic Initiatives

Moderator:
Dmitry Stasyulis — President, International Organization of Eurasian Cooperation; Sherpa of Russia, "Civil Twenty"

Speakers:
Alexey Ilyushin — Lawyer, Associate Professor of the Department of Theory and History of State and Law, Administrative Law, Tomsk State University
Pavel Ledovskoy — Head of Tax Practice, "Diktatura Zakona" Bar Association of the City of Moscow
Olga Savina — Managing Partner, Savina Legal

Russia is actively working on a project to create personal digital medical assistants as part of the Russian Ministry of Health’s Strategy for the Digital Transformation of the Healthcare Industry until 2024 and for the Planned Period until 2030. The project aims to provide greater coverage for the population in terms of regular medical checkups and increase the production of personal medical assistants by Russian IT companies. IT companies are also developing digital assistant projects and actively integrating them into various services. Such assistants offer a wide range of functions, from voice control to generative skills, and are already being actively used by a large portion of the population. However, there are a number of challenges with digital medical assistants, such as the fragmented nature and low coverage level of medical information systems, as well as insufficient support for domestic companies that are developing AI tools for medicine. What is currently being done to create the conditions needed to achieve success in healthcare and information technologies? What measures should be taken to more broadly introduce personal medical assistants? What options are there for cooperation between the healthcare system and companies that produce AI solutions? How can digital medical assistants complement or replace humans in the event of understaffing? What decisions could be taken at both the federal and regional levels to stimulate the development and integration of personal medical assistants throughout Russia? How are digital medical assistants being integrated into clinical practice? What is the position of practicing doctors and the leadership of medical institutions on this issue?

The goals for the demographic and socioeconomic development of the Far East cannot be achieved without training the specialists that are so crucial to ensuring high-quality higher education and developing scientific research. To support the development of universities in the Far Eastern Federal District, the Far Eastern track of the Priority 2030 programme is being implemented, and universities are setting up advanced engineering schools. The Far East is providing education for Far Easterners, attracting prospective university students from other regions of Russia, exporting education through foreign students, developing scientific activities, and building systemic cooperation with businesses and leading universities, which is essential to ensuring the advanced development of the Far East. What challenges have universities encountered as part of the implementation of strategic development projects and what is important for university teams? What development tracks do universities offer to prospective university students? What new opportunities and advantages can universities in the Far East offer? How are advanced engineering schools changing universities and influencing science and business? What is needed to successfully export Far Eastern education?

Speakers:
Oksana Martynenko — Acting Rector, Transbaikal State University
Yury Marfin — Rector, Pacific State University
Valentin Shumatov — Rector, Pacific State Medical University

The Russian regions are creating infrastructural opportunities using the mechanism of integrated territorial development (ITD) in an effort to draw attention to issues concerning and prospects for urban development. Regional specifics are being taken into account, particularly when implementing ITD projects in the regions of the Far East and Arctic. At present, ITD projects are an essential part of the master plans of the cities of the Far East. In addition, ITD can be used to solve the problem of dilapidated housing. What infrastructural opportunities are emerging in Russia’s regions for the use of the ITD mechanism? How should regional specifics be taken into account when implementing ITD projects in the regions of the Far East and Arctic? How are ITD tools helping to implement master plans for cities in the Far East? What best practices and approaches do ITD project offer for solving problems related to dilapidated housing?

Moderator:
Maria Sinicic — Director of the Department for Integrated Development of Territories, Ministry of Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation

Permafrost covers 11 million square kilometres, or about 65%, of Russia’s territory. It is a key factor in the natural environment, economic activity, and life of the population in the Arctic zone. The current trends with high rates of global warming, unstable permafrost conditions, and the significant warping and destruction of infrastructure make it essential to take into account the impact of climate, risk management, and the development of new construction technologies, engineering surveys, and design. The timely forecasting, monitoring, and adaptation of economic activity to changes in permafrost could contribute to economic growth and the creation of more jobs. Combatting the consequences of such destruction and cataclysms is a very expensive process and can often be ineffective. What are some of the problems associated with the changing permafrost conditions? How can we avoid catastrophic consequences and ensure the sustainability of infrastructure in the face of climate change, taking into account the need to preserve biodiversity and habitats? What institutional solutions could consolidate the interests of business, the state, and the population in solving such problems?

Moderator:
Sardana Avksentieva — Deputy Head of the Faction, "New People" Political Party

Speakers:
Anatoliy Brushkov — Head, Department of Geocryology, Lomonosov Moscow State University (online)
Vladimir Burovtsev — Rector, Far Eastern State Transport University
Nikolay Gilev — Head of Geotechnical Monitoring Group, Rosneft Oil Company PJSC (online)
Oleg Zhdaneev — Head, Center of Competence for Technological Development of the Fuel and Energy Complex under the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Zheleznyak — Director, Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science "P.I. Melnikov Permafrost Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences"
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)
Mikhail Pogodaev — Deputy Minister for Arctic Development and Northern Affairs of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); Special Representative of the Russian Chairmanship in the Arctic Council on Indigenous Peoples Issues and Regional Cooperation
Dmitry Pristanskov — State Secretary – Vice President, Norilsk Nickel; Film Producer, Co-Founder, Monumental Vision film company
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

“Qualified customer” is a concept that is used frequently in the current government framework of national goal setting – the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, the ongoing national projects. A number of companies have already successfully established themselves in this role with respect to applied developments and are bringing hi-tech products to the market. However, the question of how to organize work with fundamental science remains open. The state policy on managing investments in science calls for the creation of a system for the formation and implementation of strategically significant projects, approving scientific and technical results, and evaluating how these results have been used by qualified customers. But what does this actually mean in practice: are companies the ones that should be defining research problems for fundamental science? Should they be involved in examining the results? Or, in addition to time, should they also be funding basic research? Will this pay off, and will business investments in fundamental science allow them to actively develop import substitution products? What business indicators should companies set for themselves when working with fundamental science? Do scientists believe that this work is effective and feasible?

Moderator:
Pavel Sorokin — Head of Programs for the Expertise and Functional Development Unit, Gazpromneft STC

Speakers:
Nikita Marchenkov — Chairman, Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Scientific and Educational Spheres of the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation for Science and Education; Head, Kurchatov Complex for Synchrotron-Neutron Research, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute"
Alexey Fedorov — "Quantum Information Technologies" Scientific Group Head, Russian Quantum Center; Director, Institute of Physics and Quantum Engineering, MISIS University of Science and Technology
Fedor Chemashkin — Technical Director of Digital, Yakov & Partners

As the world continues to change, it is becoming increasingly clear that we have entered a transitional era. The West’s unipolar hegemony led by the United States is a thing of the past, yet the configuration of the new global world order remains elusive. Key global players are putting forward their own proposals for the future of international relations. Russia is the leading proponent of a multipolar world and the Greater Eurasia Partnership. China is proposing its concept of a ‘Community of Common Destiny for Mankind’ and is implementing the Belt and Road initiative. India is advocating its plan of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and stressing the importance of an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. To what extent can these and other visions of the future of the world order complement each other harmoniously? Or will they inevitably conflict, compete, and undermine each other?

Moderators:
Yevgeny Vlasov — Vice-Rector for International Relations, Far Eastern Federal University
Dongsheng Di — Dean of School of Global and Area Studies, Renmin University of China

Speakers:
Boris Korobets — Rector, Far Eastern Federal University
Bo Linh Le — Member of the Central Theoretical Council of the Central Committee, Communist Party of Vietnam
Yu Miaojie — Rector, Liaoning University
Ebrima Ceesay — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Gambia to the Russian Federation

Front row participant:
Ivan Zuenko —

The Russian economy and state are currently facing challenges and pressure of several kinds: natural (natural disasters, new threats in places not previously faced), man-made (industrial accidents and disasters, terrorist threats), and monetary (challenges in monetary policy) among others. Meanwhile, it is essential that the country enter a phase of intensive industrial development, master new product types, and institute programmes of import substitution. Relatively high interest rates, however, make the use of effective instruments challenging and necessitate a search within for resources to optimize the cost of capital. As is evident from the duration and scale of the projects implemented as part of the Project Finance Factory, risks are evolving so rapidly that it is making classical approaches to management ineffective. In particular, pressure from sanctions, terrorist threats, and disruptions in logistics chains can arise unexpectedly and must be dealt with immediately. The development and establishment of uniform risk management norms for syndicated loans will improve the efficiency of that kind of lending (as part of the Project Finance Factory among others) and interaction among those involved in the process of loan support and monitoring. The creation of appropriate platform tools and models improve the efficiency of the financial organizations lending to large investment projects and the individual enterprises availing themselves of these tools. A reliance on technological innovation and platform solutions will increase the efficiency of the measures taken and allow us to respond to new challenges, economic or otherwise, more easily. What new solutions are there to improve the efficiency of the economy in the light of limits on traditional (monetary) instruments of state influence? What risks await and what methods are there for managing them in systemically important projects? Are platform solutions effective for analyzing information, risks, and mitigation? What challenges do financial institutions face as participants in systemically important projects? What internal mechanisms exist to reduce high borrowing rates? How promising is the application of risk-based assessment ratios to projects?

In the history of BRICS, 2024 is a landmark year. In addition to creating fresh opportunities for BRICS to look into, the association's expansion presents complex challenges in terms of reforming the way it operates. Russia's role as the current BRICS Chair is especially significant in this perspective. BRICS is currently concentrated on figuring out how to function in its new form and integrate new members as rapidly and efficiently as possible into the group’s activities. At the same time, there is a need to develop mechanisms for maintaining stability and bolstering internal unity among the BRICS nations. What impact will growth have on BRICS's decision-making process? What would be the best way to balance the interests of each and every member country? What comes next for the BRICS expansion process? Is it possible for the BRICS countries to increase their collaboration in the field of global security? How best to establish a relationship between the Global Majority and the BRICS countries? How should the newly formed BRICS position itself in light of its expansion?

Moderator:
Victoria Panova — Head, BRICS Expert Council – Russia; Vice-Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics; Russian W20 Sherpa

Speakers:
Zenebe Abdi — Deputy Director, Institute of Foreign Affairs
Alireza Khoda Gholipour — Deputy General Director, Director for Asian Studies, Institute for Political and International Studies
Mohamed Salah — Member of the Board of Trustees, Al-Hewar Foundation for Studies and Humanities Researchs; Chairman, Eurasia and BRICS Forum; Member of the Advisory Board, World Tourism Experts Forum
Sergey Storchak — Senior Banker, VEB.RF
Dmitry Suslov — Deputy Director, Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies; Expert of the Working Group "Country Analysis and Analysis of National Strategies of BRICS", BRICS Expert Council–Russia
Zhao Jing — Deputy Secretary General, China Council for the BRICS Think Tank Cooperation (CCBTC)

Front row participant:
Nikita Gusakov — Chief Executive Officer, EXIAR; Senior Vice President, Russian Export Center

A comfortable and cosy urban environment must take into account the needs of various groups of the population: pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and children with balance bikes. It is crucial to find a balance between the functional capabilities and aesthetics of the urban environment. On the one hand, it is essential to create convenient conditions for the movement and accommodation of city residents and ensure the safety and accessibility of municipal facilities and services. On the other hand, it is equally important to preserve and develop urban culture and create an attractive urban environment for life and leisure, which helps citizens maintain their mental health and increases their satisfaction with life in the city. This problem is being solved with the help of developers who are equipping the spaces around new residential complexes with all the essential amenities, architects who offer new solutions, and designers who are creating new points of attraction. Municipalities play a key role in harmonizing the activities of all parties in order to ensure a systemic approach to creating a pleasant living environment. What are the priorities for improvements to the municipalities of the Far Eastern Federal District? How can green areas and waterways be combined as part of these improvements, taking into account the uniqueness of each locality and the demands of residents? How can we build a strategy for the safety of public spaces in cities? What indirect social effects do municipal improvement projects create?

Moderator:
Yulia Zubova — General Director, Academy of Urban Technologies «SREDA»

Speakers:
Evgeniy Grachev — Deputy Head of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation for Domestic Policy
Irina Guseva — Co-chairman, All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government; Member of the Presidium of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Local Self-Government
Vyacheslav Kvon — Head of Artemovsky Urban Okrug
Irina Makieva — Chief Managing Partner for Urban Development, VEB.RF
Алексей Ракитский — Minister of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Sakhalin Region
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation

The last two years have revealed trends in the changing economic landscape of Russia and its reorientation to the East. Supply chains are being redrawn, new production capacities are being recreated, radically new consumer habits and patterns are being formed, and new brands from the Asia-Pacific counties are being actively marketed. What is of particular importance at this juncture is to ensure Russia’s scientific and technological progress and the growth of its industries, accelerate the process of import substitution, and make more effective use of the resources of development institutions with respect to entrepreneurship. Key to this is the transfer of technological solutions from Asia-Pacific countries in order to establish production in Russia with the help of an international technology transfer centre, the so-called “technology bridge”.
Can the problem of import substitution be solved through re-engineering and international transfer? Should the university become a driver for the development and formation of the concept of an International Technology Transfer Centre? What competencies and ready-made solutions should already be developed, and what personnel should be attracted?

Moderator:
Boris Korobets — Rector, Far Eastern Federal University

Speakers:
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Juntao Wang — The General Director, International Competence Center
Oleg Karasev — Deputy General Director, Directorate of Scientific and Technical Programs
Yu Miaojie — Rector, Liaoning University
Vladimir Pastukhov — General Director, Agency for Technological Development
Aleksey Filimonov — Executive Director of the National Association for Technology Transfer

Front row participant:
Nikita Shaposhnikov — Deputy Head of Research and Educational Center Vezerford-Polytechnik, Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University

Russia’s pivot to the East has led to the redistribution of logistics flows, both export and import. The sharp increase in demand for transporting goods to the East has revealed a number of challenges for the Russian cargo transportation industry. Promising alternatives for Russian logistics (the Northern Sea Route, the North-South International Transport Corridor, and the Eastern Corridor) will obviously experience increased loads due to global geopolitical changes, which may require revisions to the target indicators of these projects. How can we resolve the issue of expanding throughput capacity to the East? Which are the most promising trends in terms of container cargo transportation? How should we balance container imports and exports? What prospects exist for the development of the North-South International Transport Corridor? How feasible is the project to build a through railway line to the ports of the Persian Gulf, given the current infrastructure and political realities? Is it possible to expand the range of goods that will be transported along the Northern Sea Route? What are the main bottlenecks of the project in the view of market participants? Do any successful solutions exist in world practice? How can we interconnect cargo flows based on cargo classification and export/import directions to international logistics arteries?

Moderator:
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners

Speakers:
German Maslov — Vice President of Liner and Logistic Division, FESCO
Denis Matyukhin — General Director, Aeroclub
Vitaliy Sergeychuk — Member of the Management Board, VTB Bank

There are currently five technologies in the world that are transforming global manufacturing systems and unleashing a new wave of competition: the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, modern robotics, specialized wearable devices, and additive printing. The further development of these technologies affects how, what, and where people manufacture and will change the nature of production, which needs new solutions and new manufacturing systems. Increased mobility is becoming an even clearer trend overall with each passing day. In the Far East and the Arctic, additive technologies are crucial to repairing parts in hard-to-reach areas. The experience gained by companies abroad and in Russia proves that robotics is effective. Programmes to expand and modernize production facilities are essential to increasing the overall use of robotics at enterprises. What experience can Russia’s foreign partners offer? How important are robotics in industrial production and what are their prospects for the future? Why is it crucial to have a component base? How are advanced digital production technologies being introduced? What are some of the problems with training personnel and developing robotic solutions for industry?

Moderators:
Evgeniy Dudorov — Executive Director, Androidnaya Tekhnika; Chairman of the Board, Consortium of Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems
Olga Ospennikova — Executive Director, Association for the Development of Additive Technologies

Speakers:
Evgeniy Dudorov — Executive Director, Androidnaya Tekhnika; Chairman of the Board, Consortium of Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems
Alexey Mazalov — General manager, Additive Technologies Center

The Far Eastern Hectare state programme is a unique tool for citizens to acquire land for free. Any Russian citizen can register a land plot without even leaving the house. Since the programme was launched, more than 137,000 people have received land plots. 52% of the programme participants have built houses on their land, while 29% of the hectares are used for agricultural purposes. Russians are using the land plots to develop various projects in tourism, recreation, and entrepreneurship, such as ecological parks, greenhouses, cheese factories, horse stables, service stations, cafes, and fish farms. How are the programme participants implementing projects on their hectares? What do people need when building a house or farm on a hectare? How can the hectares be used to build villages?

Speakers:
Elizaveta Ageeva — Participant of the Far Eastern Hectare Program
Aleksei Butovetskii — Secretary of State – Deputy Head, The Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr)
Sergey Vinokurov — Head of the Municipal District "Vilyuisky Ulus (District)" of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Front row participants:
Dmitry Melekhov — Participant of the Far Eastern Hectare Program
Natalia Mokeeva — Participant of the Far Eastern Hectare Program
Elena Pakhomova — Participant of the Far Eastern Hectare Program

The development of the Russian Far East is inextricably linked to maritime activities: the region is an important logistics hub that connects the whole of Russia and the Asia-Pacific, a centre for the fishing and seafood processing industries, occupying a leading position in the volume of gas and oil production on the shelf, and boasting inexhaustible potential in the field of marine and coastal tourism. The only way to ensure a successful future for these areas in the context of the sanctions is impossible without creating a high-quality ship repair base in the country’s Far East. The new fleet that will be required for the successful operation of the Northern Sea Route – ice breakers, dozens of new high-class ice vessels, tankers, bulk carriers, supply ships, container ships, port fleet, and approximately 100 new ultra-modern fishing vessels, which are being built by Russian shipyards under the investment quota programme – is forming a sustainable demand for ship repair services in the region. There is thus an urgent need to increase the competitiveness of ship repair yards in the Russian Far East and create conditions to fully meet the needs of shipowners. What needs to be done to make the most efficient and qualitative leap in the development of ship repair in the Russian Far East. How does the ship repair sector in the Russian Far East work today? How does the new zero VAT support measure work in practice? What infrastructure needs to be created for the sustainable development of ship repair in the region? The prospects for the development of ship repair in the Russian Far East: How do industry representatives see it? What do customers expect from ship repair yards in the Russian Far East? Can the production of spare tools, accessories and components for maintenance between journeys be localized? Is training qualified personnel inside the country to carry out all types of ship repair, including imported equipment under sanctions, a real possibility?

Moderator:
German Zverev — President, All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters

Speakers:
Evgeniy Ditrikh — Chief Executive Officer, GTLK
Mikhail Kasyanov — Owner, Primorsky Ship Repair Company
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Alexey Kudryavtsev — General Director, Livadia Shipyard
Yuliya Morozova — Deputy Chairman, Government of Kamchatskiy Krai
Sergey Smirnov — Director, Shipbuilding Cluster of the Arkhangelsk Region (online)
Sergey Starovoytov — General Director, Nakhodka Ship Repair Yard
Sergey Tarusov — Chairman, Lenin Collective Farm Fishery
Nikolay Shablikov — Head of the Board of Directors, Nordic Engineering

The development and integration of lands in the Far East is strategically important not only for the economy of individual regions, but for the entire country as a whole. The Far East’s unique geographical position, natural resources, and potential offer new opportunities to develop various industries. Given the new geopolitical challenges and establishment of a multipolar world, the availability of spatial information for various purposes is becoming increasingly important. The National Spatial Data System (NSDS) currently being implemented in Russia plays a key role in the collection, processing, and provision of geospatial data. Spatial data is a key tool in the process of putting land into commercial use. It plays a particularly important role in the context of the Far Eastern regions, as it can be used to assess the potential of land, identify optimal sites for the development of industry, agriculture, and tourism, and make informed decisions about land use and territorial management. The use of spatial data contributes to the sustainable development of regions, the efficient utilization of land resources, and the creation of favourable conditions for economic growth and social progress. Much progress has been made since the idea first appeared in 2021 to create the NSDS Unified Digital Platform, which has now been put into industrial operation. It is a key achievement of the large-scale joint efforts of the federal authorities, companies, corporations, and regional teams. What Russian and foreign practices exist in terms of putting unused lands into commercial use? What socioeconomic effects have been obtained from the implementation of the NSDS state programme and what effects is it projected to produce in the future? How can technology and digitalization help in managing land resources?

Moderator:
Aleksei Butovetskii — Secretary of State – Deputy Head, The Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr)

Speakers:
Anatoly Azizov — Managing Director, DOM.RF
Sergey Gavrilov — Сhairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Property, Land and Property Relations
Alicia Lopez Perez — Head of the Property Registration Department, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Cuba
Dmitry Makhonin — Governor of Perm Territory
Emil Safarov — Director of the Department of Land Construction and the Unified State Real Estate Cadastre, "State Cadastre and Real Estate Register" of the State Service for Property Issues under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The Russia–ASEAN strategic partnership marked the fifth year of its establishment in 2023. In 2004, Russia joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia as part of the Bali Treaty. These are crucial prerequisites for Russia to further intensify its dialogue with ASEAN member states. Russia attaches priority significance to cooperation with ASEAN taking into account the rapidly growing and multifaceted potential of the Asia-Pacific region. Plans for the advanced development of the Russian Far East and Arctic zone also depend on the effective realization of the potential for cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region. What are some of the most promising and strategic focuses for the development of the Russian Far East and the countries of Southeast Asia? What challenges do Russia and ASEAN member countries face in terms of intensifying trade and economic cooperation? What will Russia’s relations with ASEAN member countries look like by 2030? What joint investment projects will be implemented to bolster mutual infrastructure and improve people’s quality of life in Russia and ASEAN countries? How can we create conditions for a productive dialogue and mutually beneficial partnership?

Moderator:
Ivan Polyakov — Chairman, Russia – ASEAN Business Council

Speakers:
Gohar Barseghyan — Member of the Board (Minister) for Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Eurasian Economic Commission
Sergey Katyrin — President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Thet Thet Khine — Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Amor Maclang — Co-Founder, Secretary General, International Digital Economies Association (IDEA); Convenor, Digital Pilipinas (online)
Sergey Machekhin — Deputy General Director for Project Engineering, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation, RusHydro
Aleksey Raikevich — General Director, GLONASS

The Strategy for the Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation was approved by a presidential decree in early 2024. It stipulates that science and innovation will become a key factor in the country’s development and ensure the government’s ability to effectively respond to major challenges. The demographic transition, human-induced load, as well as issues related to energy security, food independence, and cyberthreats are all challenges that are fraught with risks for society and the economy, yet also create opportunities to unleash Russia’s technological and economic potential. What measures does the country need to take to create an effective and unified scientific and technological space? What is the best way to establish interaction between all components of the innovation system – science, technology, production, and investment – so that breakthrough solutions can appear in the country? What role might the Far East play in this work?

The rapid transformation of the traditional channels for doing business into a digital format and the active development of digital business have made it a priority for the government and the business community to resolve issues related to ensuring digital security. The issue is particularly acute when it comes to processing and ensuring the safety of the personal data of citizens. Despite the government’s special efforts to provide targeted measures to support and stimulate digital business, it remains the most vulnerable sector of the digital economic space. Last year, 95 major databases were leaked from Russian companies (30% more than the year before), with 80% of such cases linked to cyberattacks, and every tenth leak was due to the actions of employees. The main problem that the authorities and businesses need to solve is how to combat these hackers technologically. The digital security of citizens and businesses can only be ensured through comprehensive measures, in which prevention and education are just as important as directly suppressing criminal activity. Regulators and businesses base their joint activities on a combination of infrastructure and regulatory solutions. Internet security is the shared responsibility of the state, business, and the media, which must work to reduce such crimes. How can we improve digital security for businesses? How can digital technologies help to protect entrepreneurs and consumers against potential threats? What is the best way to ensure the cybersecurity of citizens? How can we find a balance between stimulating the industry and protecting people’s rights and interests?

Moderator:
Marina Mishunkina — First Deputy General Director, Argumenty i Facty

Speakers:
Artem Vasiliev — Rector, Synergy University
Oleg Kipkaev — Head of the Department for Supervision of the Execution of Laws in the Field of Information Technology and Information Protection, Main Directorate for Supervision of the Execution of Federal Legislation, General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation
Elina Sidorenko — General Director, White Internet; Director of the Center for Digital Economy and Financial Innovation, Professor, MGIMO University; Member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights
Danil Filippov — Deputy Head of the Investigation Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
Konstantin Khromushkin — Deputy General Director for Innovative Development and Digital Transformation, 1520 Group of Companies (NPS Group of Companies)

The Far East is a region blessed with an abundance of natural resources. It is home to enormous timber and water reserves and boasts incredible biodiversity. It is home to red-list flora and fauna like the Amur tiger and leopard, wild ginseng, and matsutake mushroom. The Far East is rich in minerals, with roughly one third of the country’s coal reserves, 98% of diamonds, 80% of tin, 90% of boron, 50% of gold and more. Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked the nation with achieving technological sovereignty, a thing that is directly related to sovereignty over the strategic raw materials that provide for the needs of the domestic economy. To effectively manage the natural resources and biodiversity of the Far East, we must adopt and integrate appropriate measures to protect rare and endangered species and use natural resources sustainably. How can we preserve and add to the unique natural heritage of the Far East? How can we ensure the region’s resources are used rationally? What plans exist for geological exploration? What factors guarantee ecological well-being?

Moderator:
Artem Yamshchikov — Anchor, Russia 24 TV Channel

Speakers:
Victor Bardyuk — Director, Land of the Leopard
Alexander Kozlov — Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
Yuliya Shabala — Deputy General Director for Sustainable Development and Corporate Affairs, Udokan Copper

The agriculture industry of the Far East has vast potential for growth. The development of retail chains in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District is increasing demand for the production of fresh products, while the region’s proximity to the Chinese market, with its population of around 90 million people in three provinces bordering the Far Eastern Federal District, is stimulating the development of export-oriented businesses. However, crop yield and farm animal productivity in the Far Eastern Federal District are 20–30% lower than the national average, while the region’s self-sufficiency in vegetables, dairy, and meat products ranged from 42 to 54% in 2023. There are also preconditions in place to increase the output of all types of products due to the potential for using agricultural land for commercial purposes by modernizing land reclamation. This will create an additional raw material base to increase the processing of oilseeds and grain crops, as well as feed production, which is crucial for the sustainable development of dairy cattle, beef cattle, and poultry farming. The Far East is capable of providing itself with food. What market niches are the most promising in the Far East? How can we improve the efficiency of agribusiness in the Far Eastern Federal District? Could the breeding of new varieties serve as a foundation for efficient crop production? Is the local infrastructure ready for such growth in output? How can artificial intelligence help in this regard?

Moderator:
Irina Zhachkina — Member of the Board, First Deputy Chairman of the Board, Russian Agricultural Bank

Speakers:
Dmitry Antonov — Senior Vice President, Resurs Group of Agricultural Enterprises
Mikhail Matveenko — Deputy General Director, Ekoniva-APK Holding
Denis Tsesarenko — General Director, Co-Founder, Sporos

Russia has adopted a law on the development of mining. This creates new opportunities for Russia and its partners to grow the industry in the legal field, digitalize the economy, and make foreign economic activities more flexible. At present, Russia firmly ranks second in the world in the mining market and is ahead of the United States in terms of growth. By developing the mining industry, Russia is making a practical contribution to the development of end-to-end technologies in the country, which is crucial to achieving economic leadership in the world arena. The mining industry has an infrastructure base to implement projects in artificial intelligence and as part of the Data Economy national project. In autumn 2024, the largest data centre in the Far Eastern Federal District will open. What are some of the results that have been produced by the adoption of legislation on mining and the circulation of cryptocurrencies? How are Russia and its international partners benefiting from this? What other challenges need to be solved and what needs to be fine-tuned? What is the most logical way to use cryptocurrencies in the current conditions?

Speakers:
Sergey Bezdelov — Director, Industrial Mining Association
Dmitriy Vitman — Operations Director of Corporate and Investment Business, Alfa-Bank
Igor Runets — Founder, General Director, BitRiver
Timofey Semenov — General Director, Intelion Mine

Fundamental changes have occurred in the geography of technological cooperation, which creates the need to develop industrial and logistics infrastructure along international transport corridors. Russian manufacturers are actively increasing their presence in the East, as well as in the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East. In addition, Russia’s regions are speeding up the construction of infrastructure with a focus on foreign trade activities. These efforts require an active dialogue both at the levels of the government and business. Industrial parks and special economic zones now face the task of not only establishing uninterrupted mutual supplies of goods, but also creating conditions to build technological chains between foreign partners. What specific demands do investors have for industrial infrastructure? What is the current stage of bilateral projects to build international industrial parks, and what platform can they use to cooperate? What support will the government provide to support the presence of Russian business abroad?

Moderator:
Denis Zhuravskiy — Chief Executive Officer, Association of Industrial Parks of Russia

Speakers:
Daniil Algulyan — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Kirill Babaev — Director, Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences; President, National Coordinating Center for International Business Cooperation
Denis Gros — Chairman of the Interregional Branch for the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region, All-Russian public organization "Business Russia"; General Director, MC DA! Development
Alfia Kogogina — First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Small and Medium Entrepreneurship
Sammy Kotwani — President, Indian Business Alliance (IBA)
Mikhail Sutyaginskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Titan Group of Companies
Roman Chekushov — State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
He Zhenwei — Chairman, China Overseas Development Association
Harvey Yan — Senior Partner, Zhong Yin Law Firm

The Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East is conducting large-scale work with other federal and regional government bodies to implement the new law on deliveries of goods to Russia’s northern territories, which took effect on 1 April 2024. The government has adopted several by-laws, created an institution in charge of the centralized planning, priority transportation, and servicing of cargo deliveries to the northern territories by rail and sea transport, is gradually introducing the state regulation of prices and tariff surcharges in Russia’s regions, and determined what supporting infrastructure is needed for such supplies. Work is now under way to create a Federal State Information System to Monitor Northern Deliveries. Federal and regional coordinators have been identified, a concept is being developed for a unified sea operator for deliveries to the north, and law enforcement practices are being drafted. The implementation of these measures will ensure the timely and uninterrupted supply of vital cargo to remote northern territories. What are the initial results of the implementation of this new law? What tools and measures will be used to further develop it in the future?

Moderator:
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)

Speakers:
Gadzhimagomed Guseynov — First Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Vladislav Kuznetsov — Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Region
Vladimir Panov — Special Representative for the Development of the Arctic, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM; Deputy Chairman, The State Commission for Arctic Development
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
Anatoly Shirokov — Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and Northern Affairs of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participant:
Marat Yarullin — Director of Marine Projects, FESCO

Russia has set the goal of increasing the share of the tourism industry in GDP to 5% and the number of trips around the country with hotel accommodation to 140 million people over the next six years. However, this goal cannot be achieved without state support. Government bodies need to be involved in building infrastructure, providing preferential financing for tourism projects, developing the aviation industry, improving transport accessibility, training personnel, and creating compensation mechanisms to reduce costs for both consumers of tourism products as well as the investors that are building infrastructure. In 2023, the tourist flow to the Far East increased by almost a third compared with the previous year and amounted to more than 6 million tourists. The tourism growth rate in the Far Eastern Federal District exceeded the Russian average by almost four times. However, the number of trips to the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District still remains low on a national scale and accounts for slightly less than 5% of the total trips taken domestically. Almost 300 investment projects with state support of more than RUB 180 billion are being implemented in the tourism sector of the Far East to develop ski resorts, hotels, SPA centres, recreation centres, and glamping sites. New initiatives, such as the ‘Paths of the Far East’ project, are being implemented at the federal level. The Tourism and Hospitality Industry national project is under way, and new large resorts are being built in Primorye, Kamchatka, and Baikal. Is this Far Eastern tourism infrastructure ready to welcome new guest? What state support measures for the development of the industry are crucial today? To what extent do federal and regional support measures meet the industry’s needs? What new tools are needed right now?

Moderator:
Pavel Volkov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic

Speakers:
—
Daria Bychkova — Director, Bureau "Chekharda"
Alexey Karakhan — Traveler
Dashi Namdakov — Founder, Fund for the Promotion of Culture and Art named after Dashinima Namdakov
Sergey Sukhanov — General Director, Corporation Tourism.RF
Aleksandr Tertychnyy — General Director, Anterra

Modern challenges have brought issues of global drug safety to the fore – issues that require quick and proven solutions. Preventing drug defects, ensuring their uninterrupted availability, and strengthening drug circulation systems in general – these are among the key priorities of the cooperation agenda between Russia and the BRICS countries, primarily China, in the innovation and hi-tech production of medicinal products. Chinese pharmaceutical companies and research centres have expressed their readiness to localize part of their activities on the territory of the Russian Federation, specifically in the special economic zones of the Far East. In addition, Russia and China need to work together on mechanisms for promoting competitive products in pharmaceutical markets throughout the Asia region. With all that said, solutions still need to be found that would remove various barriers from the bilateral cooperation agenda, one being the fact that the Chinese professional community is mostly unaware about the opportunities for joint activities. What aspects of strengthening cooperation between Russia and China should be discussed first? In what priority areas are effective solutions needed in order to pave the way for long-term partnerships between the two countries? What mechanisms are needed that could harmonize these processes? What prospects does cooperation in the field of drug policy open up for the BRICS countries?

Speaker:
Dmitry Kudlay — Vice President for the Introduction of New Medical Technologies, Generium

The landscape of education is rapidly evolving. New technologies are creating opportunities for more effective learning and personal development, while also presenting challenges for professionals in the labour market. The changing demands of employers are pushing universities to adopt new educational models to provide students with the necessary conditions to realize their potential. The APEC International Conference, traditionally held at Far Eastern Federal University, has become a stable platform for discussing trends and challenges in the development of the regional academic and research community and offers opportunities for exploring future educational policies in APEC economies. This session aims to encourage joint efforts to shape a more adaptive, inclusive, and forward-looking higher education landscape in the 21st century. Do the policies of the APEC economies fully address the challenges posed by the globalization of higher education? Or are existing regulations struggling to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of international cooperation and mobility? Are frequent changes in higher education policy a sign of a system that is quickly adapting to evolving needs, or do they disrupt the long-term planning of educational institutions? Do current governance mechanisms in APEC economies foster collaboration between universities and industry, or is there a need for a more dynamic system that meets the demands of the rapidly changing labour market? Should APEC economies prioritize preserving cultural diversity within their education systems, even if it means sacrificing some degree of harmonization and standardization?

In recent years, China has become the largest exporter of cars to Russia. The share of Chinese brands in the Russian automotive industry, both in the passenger car segment and in the commercial and freight transport segments, has now increased to 90%. Market changes have resulted in the reconfiguration of logistics chains, new demands to maintain the country’s existing fleet, the creation of new production associations, and the localization of products. Previously unfamiliar brands are entering Russians’ daily lives and generating fundamentally new consumer habits and patterns. Chinese businesses are working actively in Russia and objectively play a crucial role in these processes by taking on leading positions in such areas as passenger transport, the manufacturing of spare parts, and the creation of innovative technologies in the automotive industry.

Long-term observations indicate that the average annual temperature on the Earth’s surface in Russia has been growing by an average of 0.51 °C every 10 years since the mid-1970s (the temperature growth rate has increased by 0.04 °C compared with 2019), which is 2.8 times higher than the average growth rate in global temperatures (0.18 °C every 10 years). The growth rate in Russia’s Arctic zone is 3.9 times higher than the average global rate (0.71 °C every 10 years). The adaptation process involves adjusting to actual or expected climate change and its consequences in manmade and natural systems in order to reduce harm or take advantage of favourable opportunities. Is Russian business ready to integrate adaptation principles into their economic activities, and how would this affect such business processes as risk management and long-term planning? Is it better to deal with such issues today or is this an additional burden on business?

Moderator:
Marina Kim — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; TV presenter, journalist

Speakers:
Sergey Zhuravlev — Vice President of Government Relations, Polyus
Tatiana Zavyalova — Senior Vice President for ESG, Sberbank
Igor Korotetskiy — Head of the Group for the Provision of Services in the Field of Operational Risks and Sustainable Development, Kept
Sergey Machekhin — Deputy General Director for Project Engineering, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation, RusHydro
Dmitry Pristanskov — State Secretary – Vice President, Norilsk Nickel; Film Producer, Co-Founder, Monumental Vision film company
Marina Slutskaya — Director of the Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Unit, DOM.RF
Vyacheslav Fetisov — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Chairman, Russian Society for Nature Conservation (VOOP)

The geopolitical and economic challenges of today, along with the high degree of interdependence of global economies, highlight the need to search for and develop new approaches and strategies for cooperation between countries. Joint efforts based on mutually beneficial trade and logistics partnerships will open up prospects for all participants, bolster their standing on the global stage, and provide the foundation for a multipolar world. What integration models can be developed to strengthen trade cooperation between countries? Do the BRICS+ countries enjoy a special role in global trade? How can cooperation in trade and transport contribute to sustainable development and stability in a multipolar world? How can the mechanism of state support for foreign trade be fine-tuned (the purpose of the ‘International Cooperation and Export’ national project)? Do we need to build a transport and logistics infrastructure abroad? What can businesses do to support the state’s plans? And what can the state do to help businesses in new markets?

Moderator:
Elina Tikhonova — Anchor, RBC

Speakers:
Alexander Kreshchenko — President, Segezha Group
Sergey Levin — Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Veronika Nikishina — General Director, Russian Export Center
Roman Chekushov — State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Sergey Shishkarev — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Delo Group of Companies

Front row participant:
Francisco Kajatt-Vaccari — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Corporacion Kajatt Vaccari

The recent sanctions, embargoes, and price ceilings that have been imposed on Russia have not ultimately hindered oil exports from the country. The Far East’s rapidly developing oil and gas industry has already turned Russia into a major player on the Asia-Pacific market and could attract an additional USD 40 billion in investment by 2030. The Far East is also the main market for LNG sales and there are plans to increase production to 120–140 million tonnes per year by 2035. In addition, the Eastern Gas Programme has provided major incentives to develop the production of transportable energy-intensive products with high levels of processing. More so than ever before, companies are becoming involved in natural gas conversion projects and the construction of transport and social infrastructure, transshipment hubs, and oil and gas fleets. However, the Far East still has much more potential. Only 35% of the region’s subsoil has been explored, but the goal is to increase this figure to 70% by 2030. What opportunities exist to increase the level of geological exploration and start producing even more amidst the current sanctions? What support measures are needed to export oil and gas in forms other than raw materials? Can all technology imports be phased out? Have we lost sight of ensuring that production is eco-friendly or have we forgotten about the environmental impact in the rush to be the first?

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

Speakers:
Roman Berdnikov — First Deputy General Director, Member of the Management Board, RusHydro
Darya Borisova — Member of the Board – Managing Director for Development and Innovations, SIBUR
Andrey Kutepov — Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Vitaly Markelov — Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Member of the Board of Directors, Gazprom
Evgeny Petrov — Head, Federal Agency for Subsoil Use
Pavel Sorokin — First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation

Front row participant:
Maksim Tereshchenko — Minister of Industry and Geology of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

SMEs contribute to the growth, diversification and modernization of the economy. The overwhelming majority (over 96%) of SMEs in the Far Eastern Federal District are micro-enterprises. These enterprises are in particular need of government support, especially when they first start their activities. What development prospects for SMEs exist in the Far Eastern Federal District? What additional support measures are needed for small businesses? What can be done to make loans more readily available for small businesses? What support measures could help increase the number of small entrepreneurs and encourage active and enterprising families to start their own businesses? What adjustments should be made to existing support measures for people in Far Eastern Federal District regions where preferential regimes are in place (including preferences on insurance premiums for SMEs)? How can the burden on SMEs be reduced in terms of providing financial support for state guarantees and workers’ compensation (regional coefficient, percentage increase in wages)?

Moderator:
Dmitry Boyarko — General Director, Eastern Aqua Paradise

Speakers:
Pavel Volkov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic
Aleksandr Isayevich — General Director – Chairman of the Management Board, Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation
Alexander Kalinin — President, All‑Russian Non‑Governmental Organization of Small and Medium‑Sized Businesses OPORA RUSSIA
Ivan Lobanov — Rector, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics
Andrey Pudov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Ryzhenkov — Deputy Managing Director, Avito
Marina Fytova — Executive Director, Lemana PRO
Evgeny Etin — Director for Government Relations, Wildberries

Front row participant:
Vladimir Novikov — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

In recent years, sustainable development as well as environmental and social responsibility have become an integral part of the agenda of governments and business. Modern business not only involves effectively structured processes, but also requires companies to pay close attention to their employees and their families, the creation of comfortable and decent working conditions, and the implementation of social and charitable projects. In Russia, many companies are already actively taking responsibility for the future of the country, region, or city in which they work, as well as their workforce. They are investing in achieving national goals and implementing projects in education, healthcare, and other areas that are highly sensitive for the country’s citizens. In order to increase the number of initiatives that produce real benefits for people, the state is ready to support responsible entrepreneurs. To this end, a number of regions have already adopted laws to support responsible business based on the Entrepreneurs Business Reputation Index. What privileges and benefits from the government can responsible entrepreneurs count on? What are the regional authorities offering today as motivation for responsible business? What role does the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry play in developing an agenda of responsible business in Russia?

Moderator:
Nikita Anisimov — Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Speakers:
Sergey Katyrin — President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Yury Chayka — Executive Director, Association of Interregional Socio-Economic Cooperation "Central Federal District"
Svetlana Chupsheva — General Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects
Timur Shinaliev — Deputy Head, Federal Tax Service of Russia
Sergey Shishkarev — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Delo Group of Companies
Igor Shchegolev — Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District

Front row participant:
Yuliya Morozova — Deputy Chairman, Government of Kamchatskiy Krai

The health of society and its social development are major priorities for the Russian government, whose systemic approach to this issue is based on preserving the country’s population, improving people’s health, and enhancing their well-being. The domestic fisheries industry is of strategic importance to the country's economy: from ensuring food security to tax payments to treasuries at all levels. In particular, the socioeconomic well-being and development of coastal regions is centred around the salmon fishing season and the fisheries industry as a whole. The industry provides education, jobs and professional development, healthy and tasty food for the health of the nation, and active recreation for fishing enthusiasts. Starting from 1 September 2024, fisheries industry enterprises will be required to implement projects that aim to develop social, transport, and engineering infrastructure with an emphasis on the rural areas of the regions. What prospects exist for the development of the industrial sector? What benefits does industry provide to society as a whole and to humans in particular? What are the foundations of the socioeconomic development of coastal regions? What is business’s responsibility in this regard? What is the best way to train specialists and create decent working conditions for fishing and fish production facilities?

Speakers:
Andrey Grechkin — General Director, Dalreftrans
German Zverev — President, All-Russian Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters
Savely Karpukhin — General Director, Russian Fishery Company
Aleksei Osintsev — President, Association of Fishing Fleet Shipowners
Vladimir Solodov — Governor of Kamchatka Territory
Ilya Shestakov — Head, Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo)
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

The changes in the balance of power that have taken place on the world stage have clearly exposed the discrepancy between the existing international institutions and the new agenda of the multipolar world order. Influenced by supporters of the archaic balance of power, modern scientific, educational, cultural, sports, and political structures continue to promote the ideas of the Western minority. The supranational organizations that were created in the past have lost their influence and now only play an advisory role. Given the need to curb the national egoism of a number of states, world leaders now face the challenge of creating alternative international institutions that can fully meet the demands of modern society. The Russian Far East plays a key important role in bolstering a fair world order. The region, with its unique natural, economic, and technological resources, is creating unprecedented opportunities for cooperation with rapidly developing countries around the world and, above all, the Asia-Pacific region. What prospects exist for boosting the level of cooperation between the Far Eastern region and other countries in order to revive existing and create new international institutions that will provide a platform for equal dialogue between all countries and help foster greater international collaboration?

Moderator:
Daniil Bisslinger — Director General, Directorate of the World Youth Festival

Speakers:
Pierre de Gaulle — Public Figure
Alexander Machevskiy — Managing Director, VEB.RF
Weyinmi Eribo — General Manager, Women Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture

Russia’s National Programme for the Socioeconomic Development of the Far East prioritizes improvements to people’s living standards and quality of life through the introduction of new architectural solutions and the use of new technologies in construction. Implementing projects that utilize modern technological approaches with energy-saving materials, information modelling technologies, and 3D printing in construction will not only reduce the cost of a square metre of housing, thus making it more affordable, but will also improve aesthetics when using innovative architectural and technological approaches in urban planning. Who is participating in these programmes, and what financial instruments are being used to implement them? What are the prospects for the future? What innovative solutions can be used to fill urban areas with new content?

Moderator:
Svetlana Opryshko — Director, portal Vseostroike.rf

Speakers:
Andrey Artamonov — General Director, DNS Development
Aisen Nikolaev — Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
Yuriy Tyrtyshev — Founder, group of companies OOO "StroyArkhitekt"

The development of the unmanned aircraft industry is the subject of much attention today. Russia has approved the Development Strategy for Unmanned Aviation Until 2030 and further to 2035. The “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” national project was approved alongside the Strategy and launched this past January. The vast distances between settlements in the Russian Far East and Arctic mean that the development of unmanned aircraft is a high-demand, cost-effective and strategically important area. It is important to ensure the creation and development of a sustainable and competitive industry for the development, production and operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the region. What are the most pressing issues in the development of the unmanned aircraft industry in the Russian Far East and Arctic today? How effective are the support measures that are currently available? What is needed to build an electronics and components base? What about issues of introducing advanced technologies, training qualified professionals, etc.?

Speakers:
Victor Gritsayenko — Director General, NP Center "Wings of Sakhalin"
Sergey Legkiy — Director, Geranium 25
Aleksey Raikevich — General Director, GLONASS
Denis Salanin — Head of the Regional Center for Regulatory and Technical Support of Innovations, Far Eastern Federal University

The task of reducing the existing human resources deficit becomes more urgent everywhere with each passing year, and it affects developing and developed countries alike. Tense geopolitical realities have countries sweetening the pot to entice foreign specialists over to their side. To achieve national development goals and lead the technological pack, Russia must create favorable conditions for the employment of highly qualified specialists and ensure a flow of qualified foreign personnel into the Russian economy. How can we manipulate migration to meet the needs of the country? What can we do to make Russia more attractive to foreign specialists, scientists, and students? Could new programmes be used to stimulate a ‘brain gain’? Who should be responsible for creating demand for such specialists and helping them adapt? What role should business play in these processes? How do foreign specialists and their international experience influence economic growth and the development of large projects?

Speakers:
Aleksandr Vaino — Director of the "Young Professionals" department, Agency of Strategic Initiatives (ASI)
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners

See the volcanoes of Kamchatka, visit the Buryat shore of Lake Baikal, dive into one of the picturesque bays of Primorye, fall asleep under the northern lights in Chukotka, listen to the music of whales in Khabarovsk, and experience things that many Russians have never even experienced. The natural beauty of the Far East offers its guests vivid, unforgettable adventures. The ‘Far East – Land of Adventures’ competition is being held in Russia for the second straight year so that even more Russians can get to know 40% of their country. What makes the regions of the Far East attractive to active travellers? What is the best way to effectively promote unique regional tourism products? How can we make hiking trips even more interesting for families and young people?

Moderator:
Bogdan Bulychev — Traveler, Blogger

Speakers:
Leonid Agafonov — Member, Public Council Under the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East; Managing Director, EastRussia
Ian Popov — Winner of the 1st Season of the Competition “Far East - Land of Adventures” in the “Walking Travel” Category
Nikita Sukhanov — Winner of the 1st Season of the Competition “Far East – Land of Adventures” in the Category "Water Travel"
Nikolay Tabashnikov — Member of the Russian Television Academy

For over a hundred years, Russia’s development and economic consolidation have been tied to its advances to the East. Emperor Alexander III connected Russia to the Trans-Siberian Railway, opening up new markets for the Russian Empire that offered prospects for vast economic development. To build bridges to Asia, the country needed a school to training Asian studies specialists and examine the economic and political structure of Asian states. The Oriental Institute, the only higher educational institution in Russia beyond the Ural Mountains at the time, was founded 125 years ago based on a top decree issued by Emperor Nicholas II. The institute trained personnel for trade and industrial relations between Russia and Asia. A century later, in the 21st century, the decision was made to build a first-rate university in the east of the country. Today, this decision is taking on new strategic significance for the development of the economy of a multipolar world. What specialists does Russia need to develop new markets in Asia? How can we create a top-notch school of oriental studies based on Russia’s historical experience? What prospects are opening up for young people thanks to Far Eastern Federal University?

Moderator:
Boris Korobets — Rector, Far Eastern Federal University

Speakers:
Marina Dubrovshchenko — Gold medalist of the “I’m a Professional” Olympiad
Ivan Zuenko —
Alexey Maslov — Director, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Yu Miaojie — Rector, Liaoning University

Nowhere in Russia is the construction industry growing at a faster pace than in the country’s Far East. More than this, the construction complex is a key industry for economic growth and the wellbeing of citizens. At the same time, the level of development of the Russian construction sector lags behind that of developed countries. An analysis of the best foreign practices and Russian experience shows that the current state of affairs in domestic construction leaves much to be desired. Moreover, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and big data will clearly transform the forms and methods of construction. What are the best practices for the development of the construction industry in Russia and the world? What should the development strategy for the construction complex look like? What needs to be done to build more, cheaper, faster, and better?

Moderator:
Alexander Galushka — Vice President, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation

Speakers:
Alexander Krutikov — General Director, Crystal of Growth Foundation
Dmitry Lebedev — General Director, Stroytransgaz

The International Olympic Committee did not allow most of Russia’s top athletes to compete in the Paris Games this year. What is more, many of the country’s qualifying athletes opted out of vetting process that would have allowed them to take part. The sporting world is gearing up for the election of a new IOC President in 2025. While Russia has not closed the door completely to future cooperation with the Olympic movement, it has started to offer new inter-country, bilateral, commercial, and club competition formats for the global sporting community. A state programme for the development of this area is currently being developed. What role does the country’s Far East play in this process? How can the job description of athletes be expanded given the tasks of the state? Historically, Olympic champions have gone on to become role models for the youth. How can we ensure that this continues to be the case in the new reality? What do the athletes themselves have to say about the new competition formats? To what extent are the leaders of the Russian national team ready to help promote competitions and public activities? Are they prepared to take on the role of sports diplomats? How do top athletes, in spite of everything that is happening right now, remain ambassadors for Russia, recognizable brands across the globe?

Moderator:
Dmitry Guberniev — Advisor to the General Director, Russia-1 TV Channel; Сommentator, Match TV

Speakers:
Mikhail Degtyarev — Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation
Nikita Nagornyy — Olympic Champion in Artistic Gymnastics; President, All-Russian Federation of Physical Sports
Sofia Nadyrshina — World Champion in Snowboarding; Ambassador, Russian-Chinese Youth Games
Svetlana Romashina — Seven-Time Olympic Champion in Synchronized Swimming
Veronica Stepanova — Olympic Champion in Cross-Country Skiing

In 2023, Russia drafted 25 master plans for the development of cities in the Far East and approved 22 comprehensive long-term socioeconomic plans for cities and metropolitan areas. These plans include 875 measures with a total cost of RUB 4.4 trillion. For the first time in Russia’s history, the country has launched an ambitious macro-regional urban development project to create a new image of and develop cities in the Far Eastern Federal District. The programme aims to improve people’s quality of life, open up new horizons, develop promising sectors of the economy, create new jobs, and reveal the unique natural advantages of the Far Eastern regions. What are the initial results of the implementation of master plans for Far Eastern cities? What is the best way to raise additional funding for the construction of the facilities envisaged by the master plans? How is the socio-cultural programming of the regions being implemented through master plans? How are digital tools being introduced to manage, monitor, and analyse the implementation of these long-term plans? How should management teams be established as part of the creation of a new urban economy?

Moderator:
Vladimir Solodov — Governor of Kamchatka Territory

Speakers:
Elvira Nurgalieva — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Grigory Solomin — Managing Partner, NOVAYA

In June 2024, the results of the National Investment Climate Rating of the Regions of the Russian Federation were presented for the 11th time at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Since its inception, the national rating has proven to be effective in assessing the efforts taken by the authorities at all levels to improve the business environment, and its results create competition in the battle for investment at the regional level. Starting from this year, the national rating also assesses the effectiveness of the introduction of the Regional Investment Standard, a key federal project that aims to create favourable conditions for doing business in the regions. Today, the ability to use new effective tools that help solve existing and future problems affecting the investment development of the country’s regions is becoming a systemic advantage. As such, the actions taken by regional teams are taking on much greater importance, while the speed at which the regions exchange best management practices is becoming one of the most important factors in the country’s economic growth and improved well-being as a whole. Which regions of the Far Eastern Federal District have improved their rankings in the national rating, and what practices have they applied to achieve this? What conditions must all regions meet to attract investment? Which industries appear to be the most attractive in terms of investment? Which regions need to focus on developing these industries?

Speakers:
Maksim Reshetnikov — Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Svetlana Chupsheva — General Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

The issue of personnel is an existential challenge for the development of the national economy and the regions of the Far East. Economic development, import substitution, and technological sovereignty require more and more specialists with new expertise who can meet the challenges of our times. New jobs and professions are emerging, productivity is increasing, the demand for the lifelong training and development of employees is growing, and knowledge, skills, and abilities are changing due to new technologies and digital transformation, and new economic relations and forms of employment are emerging. How can we balance the education system and employers’ demands? What new instructional methods will help train the specialists of the future? How can employees remain competitive throughout their life cycle? What is the best way to increase the productivity of the Russian labour market?

Moderator:
Anton Borisov — Anchor, Russia 24 TV Channel

Speakers:
Natalia Domashchenko — Director, Regional Railway College
Dmitry Puchkov — Managing Director, Avito Jobs
Mikhail Salkov — Director of Human Resources, GRK Bystrinskoye
Mikhail Yurchuk — Deputy CEO for Government Relations, UGMK
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Considering the growing geopolitical tensions and sanctions imposed by Western countries, it is crucial for Russia to conduct an objective assessment of its own strengths. In addition to its population size, enormous natural resources, and military power, the strength of its economy and the unified approach of the government, business, and society to achieving the country’s national development goals outlined by the Russian president are of paramount importance. A group of Russian scientists have developed the National Strength Index to assess these issues. Russia has also created the Entrepreneurs Business Reputation Index based on its ECG rating of responsible business, which came into force in February 2024. It provides a comprehensive assessment of business’s contribution to the country’s sustainable development. The ECG rating has made it possible to accumulate a large number of best practices in corporate social responsibility, which were used to create the new Corporate Demographic Standard. What has the National Strength Index revealed, and what does the country rating calculated on its basis look like? What aspects of companies’ activities are reflected in the Entrepreneurs Business Reputation Index, and how can this be used in relations between the state and business? What motivation do companies have to invest in demographics and who should they seek to emulate?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Economic Observer

Speakers:
Albert Bakhtizin — Director, Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Tatyana Butskaya — First Deputy Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Family Protection, Issues of Paternity, Maternity and Childhood
Andrey Vishnevsky — General Director, Azot
Dmitriy Zaytsev — Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation (online)
Anton Shalaev — Head, The Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (Rosstandart) (online)
Igor Shchegolev — Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District
Harvey Yan — Senior Partner, Zhong Yin Law Firm

The current industrial transformation and the contribution of technological innovation to this process are hot topics for discussion within Russia and beyond. The ultimate goal of this transformation is the well-being of people and sustainable development, and bioeconomic development is one essential part of this technological transformation. The bioeconomy is significant in its potential: over the next 10 years, the introduction of biotechnology in various sectors is expected to create between USD 2 and 4 trillion. A number of countries are already applying strategies and individual programmes aimed at bioeconomic development. These programmes take into account the country’s resource potential, how scientifically and technologically advanced they are, the efficiency of value chains, existing spatial distribution of production capacities, and, most importantly, mechanisms for improving the training of qualified personnel. What should a holistic policy for bioeconomic development include? What do we need to create a list of domestic bioproducts? What production capacities need to be increased? To what extent is domestic biotechnological production carried out with domestic equipment? How should we approach the development of legal and regulatory frameworks for the creation and use of biotechnologies and assess the risks involved and the quality of the production? What financial instruments are needed to ensure the functioning of the bioeconomy? What areas of scientific research are key, and what scientific achievements are ready even now to drive growth in the domestic bioeconomy? What is the most effective way for the academic community to interact with representatives of the real economy and create bioproducts? What are some things that could facilitate the development of entrepreneurial initiatives in the sector? How should advanced personnel training be planned?

Moderator:
Ivan Lobanov — Rector, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

Speakers:
Vladimir Avdeenko — Deputy Executive Director – Director of Agrobiotechnologies, Innopraktika
Timur Lipatov — Chief Executive Officer, Rusagro
Mikhail Sutyaginskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Titan Group of Companies
Vadim Tarasov — Director, Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Lyudmila Tekutyeva — General Director, Arnika
Wang Qi — Director, Institute for China-Russia Strategic Cooperation, Tsinghua University
Mikhail Yurin — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Aleksandr Yanenko — Head, Kurchatov Complex of Genetic Research, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute"

Front row participant:
Dmitry Kudlay — Vice President for the Introduction of New Medical Technologies, Generium

Today, Russia and China are actively enhancing their mutual cooperation: the bilateral trade is expanding, the share of national currencies in settlements between the two countries has exceeded 90%, and the foreign trade pattern itself is changing to include the ever growing number of non-resource goods. The cooperation is felt everywhere, not just among businesses and government. For example, in 2023, the share of Chinese cars bought by Russian consumers topped 50%. The next stage of this development will be a strong cross-border growth of businesses in both countries driven not only by the increased mutual trade but also by the growing local manufacturing content.

Support for women’s entrepreneurship is one of the most important factors for a country’s successful economic development. Today, 43% of small and medium-sized businesses operating in the Far East were created by women. As a result of major changes in the region’s economy, all the essential conditions have been created to expand opportunities for and the role of women in all its sectors: business, science, industry, creative industries, the social sphere, and agriculture. However, many women still face barriers due to a lack of knowledge and expertise, self-doubt, and gender stereotypes. What support tools are currently available in the macro-region for women to develop entrepreneurship and acquire the expertise they need? How can we create conditions to fully include women in the modern and innovative digital economy? What tools do women need to realize their creative potential and develop entrepreneurial skills, including in the creative economy and traditional businesses? What kind of support should be provided to proactive women who want to implement their own social and business projects?

Moderator:
Elvira Nurgalieva — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Speakers:
Agripina Anufriev Egoroff — Participant of the State Programme for Assistance to Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots Living Abroad to the Russian Federation
Maria Afonina — Vice Rector, Educational Center SENEZH, Russia – Land of Opportunities
Tatyana Bakalchuk — Founder, Wildberries
Aleksandr Isayevich — General Director – Chairman of the Management Board, Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation
Galina Karelova — First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and Northern Affairs (online)
Olga Rebkovets — Acting Rector, Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University; Founder, Total Dictation Foundation
Nadiya Cherkasova — Vice-President, OPORA RUSSIA

One way to stimulate growth in the Russian economy is to help medium-sized business become large businesses. A study by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives has shown SME+ (revenue between 2 and 20 billion) to be one of the primary consumers of breakthrough technologies and scientific developments in production and an important link between larger businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises. There are currently more than 15,000 enterprises in Russia that could be classified as SME+, and 25,000 with the potential to become larger businesses (with revenue between 800,000 and 2 billion). A package of stimulus measures from the government could help businesses in the medium-sized and SME+ segments grow. In turn, limited access to capital is a key factor hindering growth in the SME+ segment. When they cross the 2 billion threshold, companies lose a wide range of benefits and support measures, and to keep growing they often need to increase production capacity significantly, a thing impossible without additional funding. What instruments for raising capital are best suited to the SME+ segment? What should an entrepreneur choose in the long term: stock market instruments or lending? Is preferential lending effective for SME+, and if so, for which industries? What is the role of big business in stimulating growth in SME+?

Moderator:
Andrey Shubin — Executive Director, All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses OPORA RUSSIA

Speaker:
Aleksandr Vaino — Director of the "Young Professionals" department, Agency of Strategic Initiatives (ASI)

Over the last 10 years, Russian foreign trade has been pivoting to the East and South. The events of 2022 made this pivot irreversible. The burden on the Far East’s transport infrastructure has increased significantly over the last two years, but its capabilities have also expanded, which means that Russian products can be exported to promising markets in the Asia-Pacific region. The realization of geoeconomic opportunities in the East will be supported by cutting-edge transport services, whose synergistic effect will thoroughly alter people’s living standards in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District. How can we effectively meet challenges to further transform infrastructure, rolling stock, the marine shipping fleet, and routes into new growth factors for the Russian economy? These and other goals to develop an effective transport system starting from 2025 are all part of the National Transport Project, which will determine the speed, geography, and extent of movement of people and cargo flows for at least the next five years. What economic effect has the pivot to the East produced? What are the plans for developing transportation and various routes in the Far East with countries that maintain friendly relations with Russia?

Speakers:
Oleg Belozerov — Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board, Russian Railways
Vitaly Saveliev — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Roman Starovoyt — Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation

Bolstering mutually beneficial relations with the countries of Greater Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific is one of Russia’s top priorities on the world stage. It is crucial to develop the practical aspect of such interaction, build cooperation ties with the involvement of businesses from countries in the macro-region, and eliminate potential restrictions and barriers that could impede the realization of their combined complementary potential. This work could be facilitated by using the unique experience and effectively combining the efforts of key integration projects and multilateral formats that unite the countries of the region. The EAEU, SCO, and BRICS all play a special role in this regard. How can we encourage business to become more involved in the development of industrial cooperation? What needs to be done to ensure unimpeded payments and settlements? How can we eliminate technical barriers to trade, standardization, and technical regulation? What steps need to be taken to develop and modernize national and international support tools and preferential regimes in Greater Eurasia?

Moderator:
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Speakers:
Gohar Barseghyan — Member of the Board (Minister) for Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Eurasian Economic Commission
Alexey Overchuk — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

One of the main global trends in the energy sector is the concept of the three Ds: decarbonization, decentralization, and digitalization. Countries are actively introducing innovative technologies and diversifying energy sources, all of which is being used to form a model of a ‘modern’ energy industry. Despite the general principles at the level of individual countries, this model may contain conceptual differences depending on the goals of state policy. The top priorities for the development of the energy sector in Russia include increasing the efficiency of and improving traditional generation, as well as developing nuclear and hydrogen energy. In addition, projects are being implemented to create smart grids and energy storage systems in isolated areas, which also help to optimize energy consumption and increase the reliability of the country’s energy system. International cooperation plays a key role in building the sustainable, efficient, and diversified energy industry of the future. This makes it possible to consolidate the efforts of individual countries, companies, and institutions, as well as find effective mechanisms to finance the transformation of the sector. How does the model of the ‘modern’ energy industry differ for different countries? How can Russia stimulate the creation of new industries and the development of its own innovative technologies in the energy sector? What are the most effective financial instruments and mechanisms for attracting investment in this regard?

Moderator:
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya — First Vice President, Gazprombank

Speakers:
Anton Kovalevsky — General Director, H2Invest
Sergey Komyshan — Member of the Board, Executive Director, SIBUR
Hongpeng Liu — Director, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (online)
Abdullah Malek — Head of Energy Transition, Office of the UAE Special Representative on Climate Change at COP 28 (online)
Ainur Sospanova — Chairman of the Board, Qazaq Green RES Association (online)

Creative industries are a key factor in promoting innovation. By maximizing the use of scientific achievements and new technologies, they create niches for entrepreneurship in creative sectors, digital services, and high-tech products. Digital technologies force us to reconsider our traditional approaches to education, manufacturing, services, work, and communication. Today, the products made by creative industries are among the most promising areas for increasing exports, as Russian companies successfully compete on international IT, cinema, animation, engineering, design, and VR markets. What opportunities are hiding in the latest technological developments? Where will technological progress push the creative industries? How is the creation of cross-industrial projects affecting the development of the creative economy? Will human intelligence be lost under the onslaught of technology? Why are creative industries becoming the main trend in Russian IT? What real sector problems can creative industry teams work to solve? Who are these people, the future creative leaders of the new economy?

Moderator:
Alexey Kalenchuk — Director of Digital Creative Industries, Skolkovo Foundation

Speakers:
Vivek Agrawal — Producer, Reliance Entertainment Studios (online)
Elizaveta Likhacheva — Director, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
Konstantin Mayor — General Director, MAER Media Holding
Mikhail Minin — General Director, MTC Live
Aleksandr Pavlov — General Director, Russian Information Technology Development Foundation
Daria Topilskaya — Director General, National Center for Industrial Design and Innovation 2050LAB
Natalya Tretyak — General Director, Prosveshcheniye
Dmitry Churkin — General Director, GPM Digital Innovations
Ji Yang — Dean of the Department of Network and New Media, Communication University of Zhejiang

Khasansky District is the southernmost territory in the Russian Far East, and is full of untapped potential. It is here – where the Russian coast of the East Sea is less than 70 km from the border with China, and where the Primorye-2 international transport corridor passes through road, rail and sea checkpoints – that a project to create a federal year-round seaside resort that will host half a million tourists per year is being developed. And it is here where the economy is harmoniously intertwined with nature, with the region’s conservation areas being home to leopards, marine mammals and rare aquatic organisms.

Moderator:
Ilya Doronov — Managing Director, RBC

Speakers:
Dmitry Vakhrukov — Deputy Minister Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Alexander Galushka — Vice President, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation
Nikolay Zapryagaev — General Director, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Oleg Kozhemyako — Governor of Primorsky Territory (online)
Anastasia Onufrienko —
Sergey Sukhanov — General Director, Corporation Tourism.RF
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Dmitry Chernyshenko — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

In the light of globalization and digitalization, a nation’s competitiveness in the global tourism market becomes even more important for their economic growth. The 2020 global tourism crisis led to structural changes in the industry, and tourists developed new preferences. In 2024, the Discover Russia brand is showing foreign tourists a safe, hospitable, comfortable travel destination safe and respectful of all religions and traditional values and capable of catering to all tastes. Doing so requires tour products that take into account the national and cultural characteristics of tourists and their unique habits and preferences. What are Russia’s competitive advantages in tourism? What regional tourism pilot projects exist? How effective are mechanisms of state support: visa policies, payment mechanisms under sanctions, expanding flight options, and ensuring convenient transport?

Moderator:
Pavel Smelov — General Director, Center for Strategic Research Foundation

Speakers:
Dmitry Vakhrukov — Deputy Minister Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Aldar Dorzhiev — Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Buryatia
Vladimir Rusanov — Minister of Tourism of Kamchatka Territory
Ilya Umansky — President, Russian Union of Travel Industry; General Director, National tour operator “Alean”
Olga Filipenkova — Managing Director, Centre for Tourism Development in the Polar Urals

In 2018, a special administrative region (SAR) was created on Russky Island in the Primorsky Territory to repatriate capital and protect businesses against sanctions. Today, more than 100 companies with assets of more than RUB 5 billion are members of the SAR. In 2023, there was a record influx of new members (+50 companies), which has created a need for modern office space. What impact are the SAR members having on the region’s development? What legislative changes have been or will be adopted so that businesses can comfortably return to Russia? What risks do companies face in their re-domiciliation, and what alternatives are there to this process? Is it comfortable for companies to work in the SAR?

Moderator:
Marina Belyakova — Partner, Head of the Tax Services Group for Fuel and Energy Companies in Russia, B1 Group

Speakers:
Pavel Volkov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic
Alexey Vostokov — Chief Executive Officer, Polyus
Sergey Gavrilov — Сhairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Property, Land and Property Relations
Nikolay Zhuravlev — Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Alexey Malinovskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, TKS Holding
Ilya Torosov — First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Vera Shcherbina — First Vice-Governor – Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory

Since 2022, federal support has been approved for 36 facilities in 9 regions with a total estimated cost of about 125 billion rubles. When determining the recipients of this type of federal support, priority is given to infrastructure projects in Far Eastern cities that tackle socially significant issues and pave the way for further urban development. Many of the landmarks that have been built under the concession programme will become synonymous with the cities they call home, and will no doubt be in demand for generations to come. Given the existing budget constraints and the difficult economic condition, it is important to have a tool for creating key infrastructure facilities that do not involve significant one-time budget outlays. At the same time, the Far Eastern Concession is one of the few instruments that allows us to solve the problems associated with attracting private investment into infrastructure, bringing in bank financing, and carrying out long-term planning. To this end, a Government Decree was signed in 2024 setting the obligations of the federal budget in terms of co-financing Far Eastern Federal District projects under concession agreements until 2037, thus guaranteeing federal support during this period. To what extent is the construction of projects that have already been approved proceeding according to plan? What difficulties do investors and regions face? How can we attract financing in this challenging economic situation? What do businesses and the banking community need? How will the concession market change after the amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation come into effect?

Moderator:
Alexander Dolgov — Partner, Better Chance

Speakers:
Alexander Aksakov — Director of Infrastructure Bonds Division, DOM.RF
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Yuriy Korsun — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Maxim Topilin — Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Natalya Trunova — Auditor, Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Chachin — Vice President, Sberbank

Front row participants:
Andrey Blokhin — Minister of Economic Development of the Primorsky Region
Ivan Potekhin — Executive Vice President, Gazprombank

The Russian timber industry experienced a major crisis from 2022 to 2023 that led to a reduction in production and exports. Nevertheless, positive changes are currently being seen in production volumes, particularly in monetary terms. However, there are still negative trends in timber exports, which means new strategies and focuses for development need to be found. Given the limited demand for timber outside of Russia, the main source of sales is the domestic market, which consumes the final products of the timber industry. Wooden housing construction, including multi-story wooden buildings, is crucial in this regard, since it is regarded as a promising trend that can not only support the industry, but also meet the need for high-quality and eco-friendly housing within the country. What are the current prospects for increasing wooden housing construction in terms of the development of territories in Russia’s Far East? This region has significant potential for the development of the timber industry and could also become a key testing ground for new wooden housing construction projects. In addition, the development of this industry should be viewed in conjunction with other related sectors, such as transport and communication infrastructure, furniture production, and other segments associated with the final consumption of timber products. Such integration will create a holistic ecosystem that not only contributes to economic growth, but to the sustainable development of regions as well. What is the current situation in the industry? How can we increase demand for wooden housing products? What measures are needed to launch the industrial production of wooden housing kits?

Moderator:
Pavel Bilibin — Partner, Strategy Partners; Vice President, Union of Timber Manufacturers and Exporters of Russia

Speakers:
Andrey Artamonov — General Director, DNS Development
Oleg Bocharov — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Dmitrii Dobrynin — Vice President, New Forest Pro
Nikolay Ivanov — Vice-President for the Implementation of State Programmes, Sustainable Development and Forest Policy, Segezha Group
Leonid Kuzmitsky — General Director, Innovation Group
Evgeniy Makarenko — General Director, Author's Wooden Houses
Aleksandr Prygunkov — Managing Partner, Samolet Group of Companies
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation
Elena Stepanova — Director of Strategic Development, PIK-Specialized Homebuilder
Artur Khafizov — Member of the Board, Wooden House Construction Association

The Asia-Pacific region has always been of particular interest to Russia, since Asia, in particular China, accounts for the bulk of Russian content exports. China’s film industry is currently among the top in world cinema. It has become an influential industry that is capable of creating content in a wide variety of sizes and genres, and the audience market is considered one of the most up-and-coming in the world. Today, the question is whether the two countries can expand and intensify collaboration both in film distribution and co-production projects, as well as building investment cooperation. What support measures could have a significant impact on Russian-Chinese cooperation in the creative industries? What barriers are preventing Russian films from entering Asia-Pacific markets today? Could the regions of the Far East become a future filming location for the Chinese film industry? What special considerations need to be taken into account when localizing content? What bonuses and prospects can Russian companies gain from maintaining a systematic presence in Asian film markets?

Speakers:
Elsa Antonova — General Director, Roskino
Nikolay Zlatopolsky — Director of International Sales Department, Central Partnership (online)
Sergey Ilyevsky — General Director, ArtMainstream
Yi Lin — Vice President, Shanghai CMC Pictures Co
Igor Chomsky — Director of Interaction with the Industry of the Holding, MTS Media

The world is currently in the active phase of the energy transition. The development of renewable energy sources is having an increasing impact on the economy and is closely tied to the climate agenda. However, the world is not going to completely abandon fossil fuels. Russia has a unique set of advantages, which, if utilized properly, could allow it to set the tone in the global energy industry of tomorrow. Such advantages include large reserves, well-developed infrastructure for the extraction of minerals, the hydropower industry, in which only 20% of its potential has been developed, enormous potential for growth in solar and wind generation, and unique experience in the development of nuclear energy compared with other countries. How can we strike a balance that will take into account the interests of all market participants and allow them to be competitive in the energy industry of the future? What configuration of generation sources is optimal for the state, taking into account the trends of the energy transition? What does this configuration look like for Russia’s largest trading partners – China and India? How are they adapting to the challenges of the energy transition? Optional: how realistic is it today to build a large hydroelectric power plant with the involvement of investors from countries that maintain friendly relations with Russia, and would the state be ready to hand it over to private players?

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

Speakers:
Roman Berdnikov — First Deputy General Director, Member of the Management Board, RusHydro
Irina Gaida — Deputy Director of the Project Center for Energy Transition and ESG Principles, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)
Tatiana Zavyalova — Senior Vice President for ESG, Sberbank
Vladimir Kolmogorov — General Director, En+
Grigory Nazarov — General Director, NovaWind
Anton Poriadine — Partner, Yakov & Partners

Front row participant:
Sergey Storchak — Senior Banker, VEB.RF

In today’s world, where globalization and integration are becoming increasingly significant factors in the development of society, special attention is paid to regions that play a key role in the formation of the new world order. The Asia-Pacific has become a new centre of politics and economics, playing a key role in the modern geopolitical system. And no one can deny that the centre of global development has shifted to this region. Southeast Asia is a critical region for global politics, where complex political processes are unfolding, including territorial disputes and changing balances of power between various countries. How does the changing balance of power in the Asia-Pacific affect the global geopolitical situation? What external forces influence political processes in the Asia-Pacfic? How might the process of decoupling that is taking place between the United States and China change global political and economic relations? What are NATO’s interests in the Asia-Pacific in the context of the U.S.–China rivalry? Could Southeast Asia become the new global financial centre?

Moderator:
Alexander Dugin — Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Multipolarity Forum; Director, Ivan Ilyin Higher Political School

Speakers:
Atul Aneja — International Relations Specialist, Editor of The Hindu
Connie Rahakundini Bakrie — Professor, Faculty of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University
Zhang Weiwei — Professor, Fudan University; Director of the Chinese Institute
Maria Zakharova — Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Vinay Kumar — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation
Konstantin Malofeev — Head, Tsargrad
Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela — Chairman, International Russophile Movement; Member of Parliament, Chairman of Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, National Assembly of South Africa

One of the main tasks today is to create international priority development areas (IPDAs). IPDAs can create new advantages for Russia and its foreign economic partners in the global competition for direct investment and trade flows. The first international priority development area, involving Russia, China, Belarus and other friendly nations, may appear in Primorye – the centre of Asia-Pacific Russia at the intersection of international transport corridors. What model of preferential regimes would work best for IPDAs in terms of attracting foreign investments ahead of the competition? How can IPDAs be leveraged to ensure an exponential increase in mutual trade between Russia and friendly countries? What conditions need to be created using IPDAs to redirect Chinese freight from the Port of Dalian to the ports of the Russian Far East?

Moderator:
Alexander Galushka — Vice President, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation

Speakers:
Kong Dan — Chairman, CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies
Alexander Krutikov — General Director, Crystal of Growth Foundation
Alexander Osipov — Governor of Trans-Baikal Territory
Alexander Rogozhnik — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation

The mechanism for the integrated development of territories is one of the most promising tools for urban development and the thorough renovation of urban spaces. However, the construction industry has encountered numerous challenges along this path of growth, including problems with infrastructure, financing, labour, and, most importantly, land. What prospects exist for using federal land plots, and what are some of the difficulties with incorporating them into the stream of commerce? Is there potential to effectively use unallocated land in partnership with regions and large businesses in the future? What experience do the Far Eastern Federal District and developers have in this regard? What are the new horizons for housing construction and how will the new Infrastructure for Life national project affect the industry?

Speakers:
Alexey Almazov — Managing Partner for the Regions Segment, FSK Group of Companies
Gaidukov Alexander — President of the group of companies "Strana Development
Evgeniy Kozlov — Chief Executive Officer, APRI
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Igor Mishchenko — Chairman of the Management Board, Construction and Investment Corporation "Development-Yug"
Vitaly Mutko — Chief Executive Officer, DOM.RF
Dmitry Ryabov — Chairman of the Board of Directors, DARS
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Konstantin Abramov — General Director, All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center Foundation (VTsIOM); Chairman, Public Council under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Anton Glushkov — President, NOSTROI National Association of Builders
Anton Mikhalkov — General Director, Rosvodokanal

We can only talk hypothetically about how dangerous, contagious, or lethal Disease X might be in the future. However, it is highly likely that a new pathogen with pandemic potential will emerge in Southeast Asia. Given the population density, urbanization, degree of economic integration, rapidly growing interrelations, and pace of trade and economic development, the countries in the region need to create new opportunities for cooperation in epidemic risk management, the early detection and suppression of new infections, as well as research and development in terms of diagnostics and vaccines. How Southeast Asia ends up preparing for Disease X will dictate whether a new pandemic will be more destructive than COVID-19. Is the threat of a new unknown Disease X real? When can we expect it and what will contribute to its emergence? What do we need to do to prevent the emergence of a new pandemic? Is Southeast Asia ready for the next pandemic? Will it be able to protect the world and prevent the spread of a potential disease? What priorities exist for scientific and technical cooperation among countries in the region to improve their readiness for infectious threats? What cooperation mechanisms need to be strengthened and developed to improve preparedness and respond to pandemics?

Moderator:
Anna Popova — Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing; Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation

Speakers:
Nguyen Phi Long — Deputy General Manager, Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center
Mikhail Shchelkanov — Director, Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Ilnaz Imatdinov — Head of the Laboratory of the Department of Genomic Research, State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector"
Vadim Petrov — Head of the Scientific Group for the Development of New Molecular Biological Technologies, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology

Digital platforms have already become an integral part of the modern world, as evidenced by the emergence of the term ‘platform economy’. Russia is developing its own tech giants, which are gradually moving beyond the usual online trade format. Marketplaces are ready to invite both Asian sellers and Russian suppliers who have direct contacts with local manufacturers or work in the import business. The Asia-Pacific region has enormous potential for the development of digital services. This region is comprised of countries with a diverse economic structure, ranging from advanced tech giants to the rapidly developing countries of Southeast Asia. It is home to billions of consumers, making it one of the most promising regions for companies that work in digital technologies. Digital platforms not only enable companies to reach new customers, but also to reduce costs by automating business processes, which helps to make it competitive on a global level. Interacting with customers through digital channels, developing innovative products, and establishing partnerships with local companies will establish a foundation for a successful presence in the growing Asia-Pacific market. The search for areas for further development can result in unconventional solutions. What solutions is Russia ready to offer to the world and the Asia-Pacific region in this regard? Does regulation for tech giants need to be updated?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Economic Observer

Speakers:
Tatyana Bakalchuk — Founder, Wildberries
Zhou Liqun — Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia
Robert Mirzoyan — Executive Director, Russ Group of Companies; Chairman of the Outdoor Advertising Committee, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia)
Artem Sokolov — President, The Association of Internet Trade Companies
Roman Chekushov — State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
He Zhenwei — Chairman, China Overseas Development Association
Andrey Sharonov — Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Association of Digital Platforms

The development of the Great Northern Sea Route is of significant national importance to the Russian Federation. It is the only waterway that connects all subarctic and Arctic regions of Russia, and one of the most effective (and in some cases the only) way to get necessary goods to the populated areas of the Russian Arctic. Arctic projects are constantly adapting to new conditions – this much is clear from the record volumes of construction freight delivered to the region. And the development of the Northern Sea Route continues at a steady pace. A new approach to international cooperation in the development of the Northern Sea Route is gradually being formed. What does the future development of the Northern Sea Route hold? Will the Efficient Transport System national project become a driver for the development of the Northern Sea Route and the Great Northern Sea Route? How is the issue of the development of the Northern Sea Route infrastructure and ensuring safe passage on the route being resolved? What needs to be done to connect the Northern Sea Route to the supporting transport infrastructure, namely railways and deepwater ports? What is next for international cooperation?

Moderator:
Mikhail Bazhenov — Partner, Head of Strategic and Operational Consulting Practice, Technologies of Trust

Speakers:
Alexey Likhachev — Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Fan Yusin — Chairman, NewNew Shipping Line

India is a long-standing friend of Russia, as well as a business, cultural, and political partner. The strong ties between the two countries were built back in Soviet times and are now progressing a new level. The Indian economy is showing impressive growth rates. India ranks third in the world by GDP in terms of purchasing power parity. Russia is also becoming one of the most important trading partners for the rapidly growing Indian economy. To further increase mutual trade, as well as intensify investment cooperation, Russia and India need to define their key goals and objectives of cooperation, including in such promising areas as industrial cooperation, transport and logistics interconnectivity, as well as financial infrastructure. How is logistics communication developing between India and Russia? How successfully are routes being implemented within the North–South International Transport Corridor and the Vladivostok–Chennai sea corridor? India remains a key market for Russian business. Who has managed to fully tap into the potential of the Indian market? Which segments of the Indian market have the greatest potential for Russian companies? Which Indian products are in demand in Russia? Which segments of the economy are the most promising for expanding cooperation? Is Indian business interested in the Russian market? What difficulties do Indian players see in entering the Russian market? What could help improve cooperation in the mutual exchange of experience, expertise, and technologies?

Moderator:
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners

Speakers:
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Tribhuvan Darbari — Chairman of the India-Russia Business Council, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Vladimir Ivin — Deputy Head, Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation
Pavel Lyakhovich — Member of the Management Board, Executive Director, SIBUR LLC
German Maslov — Vice President of Liner and Logistic Division, FESCO

Front row participant:
Manpreet Singh — President, Indian Chamber of International Business

Despite attempts by unfriendly countries to rewrite the rules of the game in the geopolitical arena, Russia remains committed to the existing foundations of international law and is engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation with states that are members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In an effort to strengthen economic ties, Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea this year, and the leaders of Russia and China issued a joint statement on intensifying relations as part of their comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. At present, Russia is implementing a new model of economic growth and actively developing its heavy and manufacturing industry, agriculture, and tourism. The country is paying particular attention to the breakthrough development of the Far Eastern Federal District, which is of strategic importance for ensuring stable trade turnover in the Asia-Pacific region. In order to achieve Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal of ensuring higher economic growth rates, Russia is implementing a unique set of measures of state support for enterprises, creating essential infrastructure, introducing new digital mechanisms to help reduce time costs and administrative barriers, and optimizing production chains and processes. The regulatory guillotine that is being introduced has significantly reduced the number of mandatory requirements for entrepreneurs and eradicated tens of thousands of redundant and outdated norms and rules. Prosecutors are directly involved in this work in order to systematically protect the rights of business entities, promote the establishment of an easy, understandable, and internally consistent regulatory framework, offer supervisory guidance for all the different types of support that are being provided, and encourage entrepreneurial initiative, including when authorizing control and supervisory activities. Balancing the interests of the state, society, and business in this manner will make it possible to mitigate the consequences of negative foreign policy factors as much as possible. What path has the Russian legal system traversed in recent years? What is unique about the mechanisms that have been developed to protect bona fide businesses, including in territories with special economic regimes? How does the proactive nature of prosecutorial supervision affect the creation of comfortable conditions for entrepreneurs? What measures are being taken to reduce the administrative burden? How can we ensure the security of the information technologies that are being introduced? What could help boost the confidence of foreign investors? What else needs to be done?

The Russian state has historically borne responsibility for and ensured the preservation of the original habitat, traditional way of life, and spiritual heritage of the Indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia, and Far East. To this end, comprehensive measures are being taken for their ethnocultural development and social support, as well as to improve vital services systems for the most vulnerable groups of such peoples who live in areas between settlements, in addition to remote and hard-to-reach territories. As a result, unlike many regions of the world, the Indigenous peoples of Russia have retained their numbers, settlement systems, self-government, way of life, culture, languages, and ties to their lands. However, amidst an increasingly globalized world, economic growth, and the resulting transformation of the system of social relations, Indigenous peoples are facing new challenges and threats. As part of the development and approval of the Concept for the Sustainable Development of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East of the Russian Federation for the Period until 2036, a meaningful public discussion needs to be held about how this concept should be drafted. How can we modernize conditions for the traditional types of economic activity of Indigenous peoples? How should we support their entrepreneurial initiatives in such areas? What is the economic potential of the traditional types of economic activities, how can they be expanded, and what should the government’s role be in dealing with these challenges? How can we improve the quality of life of Indigenous peoples at the places where they reside? What is the best way to preserve the native languages of Indigenous peoples? How does Russian legislation affect international cooperation among Indigenous peoples?

Moderator:
Grigory Ledkov — President, Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East

Speakers:
Igor Barinov — Head, Russian Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs
Anton Klimov — Acting Head of the Directorate for the Far Eastern Federal District, General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation
Magomedsalam Magomedov — Deputy Chief of the Executive Office of the President of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Elena Evtyukhova — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Anatoly Nikolaev — Rector, Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University
Sergey Chumarev — Deputy Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation on Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Despite economic challenges, the Russian automotive industry is rapidly developing. The traditional Russian manufacturers KAMAZ, AVTOVAZ, UAZ, and GAZ are increasing production, along with the expansion of Chinese brands. Russian enterprises are developing cooperation programmes with their Eastern partners to localize car and component production, which has helped the Russian automotive industry continue to integrate into the global industry. What forms of cooperation are needed to achieve the long-term goals of the Russian automotive industry’s development strategy and on what requirements should such cooperation be based? Is cooperation critical to localizing components and increasing added value, or is the path of technological sovereignty more effective? What prospects exist for developing transport with alternative power units and new mobility services, and what role do foreign partners play in this regard? What regional policy should the Russian government pursue to ensure effective cooperation?

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

Speakers:
Pavel Azgaldov — Director for Strategic Development, TVEL
Sergey Gromak — Vice President for External Affairs and Shareholder Relations, AVTOVAZ
Denis Kanataev — Commercial Director, Far-Eastern Shipping Company
Anatoly Kiyashko — Director for Interaction with Government Authorities and Corporate Partners, KAMA Automobile Company
Andrey Kutepov — Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Vyacheslav Spirov — General Director, Gazprombank Leasing

Numerous trends point to the need for a conscious policy to transition from the population being concentrated in major cities to distributing it throughout Russia’s vast territory, including to achieve the country’s national goals. Private investors are now ready to invest in building and developing new cities, either as part of plans to set up new enterprises or to implement other investment projects. For Russia, this could become one of the methods used to revamp the settlement system and preserve the population in strategically important territories, including in the Far Eastern Federal District. Examples of such projects that are already being implemented include Dobrograd in the Vladimir Region, Ecopolis in the Sakhalin Region, DNS City in the Primorsky Territory, and the planned Micropolis in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). New cities can become centres for demographic development and a benchmark environment for families with children, and also support the birth rate and large families. But this requires new solutions not only in urban planning and the municipal economy, but in the actual philosophy (concept) of development and specific practices that focus on the needs of large families. Could these new Russian cities become points of attraction that will help redistribute migration and economic flows throughout the country? What strategy could be implemented to ensure the uniqueness of new cities? How can they utilize the principle of family-centricity in terms of the environment, services, and communities? What key mechanisms are needed to develop the economy of new cities? Could private investment be a tool for the country’s spatial development and the emergence of new cities? Could new cities create conditions to support families and birth rates, and encourage people to have more children in Russia?

Moderator:
Alexey Govyrin — Deputy, Member of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Small and Medium Enterprises

Speakers:
Dmitry Alexeev — General Director, DNS Group
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Aleksandr Prygunkov — Managing Partner, Samolet Group of Companies
Vladimir Sedov — Founder, Askona Life Group; Dobrograd Project Author
Svetlana Chupsheva — General Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

Infrastructure projects are among the main drivers of the socioeconomic development of the Far East regions with their multiplier effects. However, they are capital intensive and require the creation of conditions for business and the state to cooperate at the national and international levels, including in the BRICS+ space. With the implementation period of the Strategy for the Spatial Development of the Russian Federation and the Strategy for the Socioeconomic Development of the Far East and the Baikal Region set to conclude in 2025, it is important to discuss the strategic benchmarks of the macro-region and the drafting of long-term development documents, taking into account the need to further adjust the system used to assess the effectiveness of infrastructure projects, and prepare measures to support the involvement of private investors in their implementation. How can we combine the interests of the state, development institutions, and private investors in the implementation of infrastructure projects when structuring project financing transactions? What is the best way to ensure the financing of infrastructure projects in this era of high interest rates? How should the effectiveness of infrastructure projects be assessed? Which infrastructure projects in the Far East are the most promising? What new opportunities are being created in the BRICS+ space in terms of financing mechanisms and the implementation of long-term infrastructure projects?

Moderator:
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)

Speakers:
Aleksandr Babakov — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Ilya Gurov — Head of the Department of Finance and Credit, Faculty of Economics, Moscow State University
Yuriy Korsun — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Jian Lian — Founder, Beijing Hengce Investment Consulting Co.
Oleg Melnikov — First Vice President, Gazprombank
Grigoriy Smirnov — Partner of the Public-private partnership, construction and infrastructure practice, Nikolskaya Consulting LLC
Maxim Topilin — Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy

Front row participant:
Anna Baginskaya — Managing Director, Head of the PPP Center, Sberbank

Russia has accumulated a wealth of experience of successful practices in the organization and financing of healthcare, as well as in healthcare innovation. This experience includes numerous innovative designs and organizational models that have been introduced and scaled in various healthcare settings across the country. The Far East plays a special role in the modernization of healthcare in Russia. The remoteness of many of its territories and the fact that some areas cannot be accessed by land for much of the year have led to the development and successful implementation of promising solutions: air ambulances, mobile medical clinics and first aid stations, and medical informatics, including modern digital technologies such as telemedicine and remote health monitoring. Many innovations in the field of digital transformation, triage, and primary health care that are used in the region have been adopted throughout the country, forming the basis of algorithms and health recommendations. Strengthening mechanisms for sharing experience and knowledge could prove to be an important step towards increasing the efficiency of medical organizations, expanding accessibility to, and improving the quality of, medical care in Russia. In what areas is the modernization of the medical care system taking place with due account of the needs of society and the national healthcare system? What best practices for the improvement of medical care, most notably primary care, that have been implemented in the Russian Far East can be replicated and implemented in medical organizations throughout the country? What problems facing the implementation of advanced solutions will the exchange of experience in the healthcare system help solve? In which areas should this cooperation be developed first?

Speakers:
Timur Akhmerov — General Director, BARS Group
Vladimir Yuschuk — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region

Front row participant:
Evgeniy Shestopalov — Minister of Health of Primorsky Region

The socioeconomic development of the Far East remains a priority of in Russia’s state policy and aims to retain and increase human capital, among other things. The availability and affordability of housing plays a special role in programmes to attract people to the macro-region and serves as an essential precondition for establishing a decent living environment and high quality of life. Mortgage lending is one of the main tools for improving housing conditions among residents of the Far East. The region has a targeted state-supported programme called Far Eastern Mortgage, and loans are being issued at a record low rate of two percent per annum. What goals has it already helped to achieve? How can the programme influence improvements in the demographic situation and support for the birth rate and large families?

Moderator:
Hasan Hasanbalayev — Executive Director for Social Development, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Speakers:
Olga Batalina — First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Tatyana Butskaya — First Deputy Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Family Protection, Issues of Paternity, Maternity and Childhood
Georgiy Gorshkov — Deputy President - Chairman of the Board, VTB Bank
Sophia Pulikovskaya — Director of Regional Development Division, DOM.RF

The importance and scale of infrastructure projects, as well as their impact on the economy and geopolitics, are increasing each year. The strengthening of ties between Russia and countries of the East has led to an increase in trade turnover, while the creation of new and modernization of existing routes is opening up new opportunities for Russian exporters. Strong infrastructure and logistics that are not dependent on the global market situation are becoming the foundation of a multipolar world and an equal partnership between states and their sovereignty. Infrastructure development spurs on the construction of housing, manufacturing facilities, and public amenities, and invigorates the labour market. Lots of high-tech know-how is created and introduced during the implementation and design of major infrastructure projects. Russia has gained significant experience and capacity that can be used outside the country and can successfully compete with the largest international conglomerates. Which areas of infrastructure construction have generated the most impressive results? What prospects exist for the development of railway, road, terminal, and port infrastructure? What challenges do Russia and builders face in these areas in the East? What technological solutions could be of interest to other countries, particularly in the context of Eurasian integration? How should the government, companies, and financial institutions collaborate to achieve the best results?

Moderator:
Elina Tikhonova — Anchor, RBC

Speakers:
Nikolay Valuev — First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on Ecology and Environmental Protection
Aleksey Krapivin — Chief Executive Officer, NPS Group of Companies
Vitaliy Sergeychuk — Member of the Management Board, VTB Bank
Nikolay Tsekhomskiy — First Deputy Chairman – Member of the Board, VEB.RF

The Russian president has set the goal of increasing passenger traffic on flights within the Far East to at least 4 million passengers per year by 2030. To achieve this target and enhance the level of transportation, the Russian Ministry of Transport, along with the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, have prepared a plan for the development of air transportation within the Far Eastern Federal District. The plan envisages the following measures: the construction and modernization of airports, airfields, heliports, and landing sites in the Far Eastern Federal District; the supply of the required number of Russian-produced aircraft and helicopters for regional and small aviation; a reduction in passenger transportation costs, including through the use of preferential leasing mechanisms; and the greater availability of transportation within the Far Eastern Federal District for Russian citizens. What is the current situation like and what prospects exist for the development of air transportation in the regions of the Far East? What constraints remain in the implementation of the plan and how can they be overcome? How can we accelerate the development of local transportation? How are plans being implemented to rebuild airfield infrastructure? What other problems need to be solved to achieve the target indicators for passenger traffic?

Moderator:
Igor Kustarin — Senior Advisor, Strategy Partners

Speakers:
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Fedor Borisov — Head of Analytical Center, State Scientific Research Institute of Civil Aviation
Oleg Bocharov — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Evgeniy Ditrikh — Chief Executive Officer, GTLK
Vladimir Poteshkin — Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation
Konstantin Sukhorebrik — General Director, Aurora Airlines
Dmitry Yadrov — Head, Federal Agency for Air Transport

Front row participants:
Alexey Laukart — Co-founder, Prosto Tent
Vladimir Sivtsev — Minister of Transport and Road Facilities of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

The widespread restructuring of the Russian economy over the last two years has turned the Far East into an investment priority for business and the state. However, objective factors mean that the cost of goods in the Far East is still substantially higher than in the rest of Russia. This mitigates the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to build critical infrastructure, hinders business development, and prevents new residents from coming to the region. One solution could be to strengthen the industrial base of the Far Eastern Federal District. Creating its own production facilities would reduce the cost of products needed for the development of the region. To maximize the effect from this, there should be a greater focus on industries with wide areas of application for their finished products. One such industry is the chemical industry. Polymer-based products are widely used in all sectors of the economy, and their production in the Far Eastern Federal District would increase the availability of advanced technological solutions and reduce costs for businesses and the population. In addition, the industry has a huge multiplier effect on the economy. One job at an enterprise creates seven or more jobs in related industries. What is the best way to maximize the potential of polymer processing in the Far East? The government is investing trillions of roubles in the region’s infrastructure, including the development of the Eastern railway operating domain, as well as the modernization of the energy system and housing and utility services. How can Far Eastern suppliers take advantage of these opportunities? What conditions need to be created for businesses to intensify the processing of raw materials in the region? How can the state help: with subsidies or guarantees of long-term demand? Can the regions of the Far East develop their own industry with China as a neighbour? How can we find a balanced approach to protecting markets and efforts to phase out imports?

Moderator:
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners

Speakers:
Andrey Artamonov — General Director, DNS Development
Lev Gorilovskiy — President, Polyplastic Group
Mikhail Karisalov — Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, SIBUR
Vasily Orlov — Governor of Amur Region

Russia and China are among the world’s top five largest greenhouse gas emitters, and the success of their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 will largely determine the extent to which the goals of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement will be achieved. China has a national greenhouse gas emissions trading system, while Russia has introduced mandatory carbon reporting and is conducting an emissions trading experiment on Sakhalin island. The two countries are trying to find the most effective regulatory solutions that will help to achieve comprehensive decarbonization taking into account their own specific national circumstances, while also continuing to implement economic growth and development plans. Given the growing rate of carbon regulation, Russian and Chinese companies have a great opportunity to build cooperation in supplying resources and exchanging technology, which are crucial to implementing the ambitious climate goals. What challenges and opportunities does cooperation in low-carbon development create for companies? Could carbon regulation be used to increase competitiveness and penetrate new markets? How can we ensure the mutual recognition and comparability of measures and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

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

Speakers:
Anna Karzhavina — Director of Commercialization of the Palladium Technology Center, Norilsk Nickel
Igor Makarov — Head of the Laboratory for the Economics of Climate Change, National Research University Higher School of Economics (online)
Milena Milich — Special Representative of the Governor for Climate and Sustainable Development of the Sakhalin Region
Elena Myakotnikova — Member of the Executive Committee, Director of Sustainable Development, RUSAL
Yuliya Shabala — Deputy General Director for Sustainable Development and Corporate Affairs, Udokan Copper

The emergence of new materials will inevitably lead to the transformation of numerous industries, from atomic research to space exploration. A striking example of this in recent years is graphene, which appeared only 20 years ago and is currently being used in the production of microelectronics, batteries, and even tennis rackets. Materials are becoming more complex with each passing day, and the possible areas for their application are constantly expanding. Perhaps we will see how the technologies of the future become the technologies of the present based on the example of new materials. However, this will require the comprehensive development of the economy and industry in the country, as well as synergy at different levels. It is crucial to simultaneously build modern research and production infrastructure, ensure the availability of basic chemistry, expand technological processes, lay the groundwork for science-intensive breakthrough projects, and train specialized personnel. This, in turn, will lead to the emergence of a new industry. What do we need to form a new industry? What do developers and manufacturers of materials need for a quantum leap forward? In what sectors will we see the greatest demand for new complex materials? How can we accelerate the incorporation of developments into industry? What prospects is the development of new materials creating for humanity? How can we find the future in the present?

Moderator:
Ruslan Yunusov — Co-founder, Russian Quantum Center

Speakers:
Darya Borisova — Member of the Board – Managing Director for Development and Innovations, SIBUR
Dmitry Bochkarev — General Director, Composite Valley
Igor Kobzev — Governor of Irkutsk Region
Alexander Korsunsky — Professor, Skoltech Center for Systems Engineering

Given the growing cargo turnover at Far Eastern ports, the Russian government’s key priorities include the development of traditional and launch of new sea routes for cargo transportation through the Far East to Asian countries and other geographic regions that maintain friendly relations with Russia, the expansion of port infrastructure, and creation of additional capacities both in Russia and abroad to handle these cargo flows. In 2023 alone, exports to Asian countries from Russia increased by 6%, Asian countries accounted for more than 70% of total Russian exports, and imports from Asian countries to Russia increased by 30%. Over the past few years, Far Eastern ports have launched new services not only to Asian countries, but also to India, Sri Lanka, and other regions. Digital logistics technologies are also developing, which streamline cargo handling at ports and border crossings, help accelerate the redirection of Russian foreign trade flows to China and other Southeast Asian countries, and contribute to the further growth in Russia’s trade turnover with this region. Which Asian countries have become more involved in trade with Russia today? Are there enough logistics solutions on the market to support the ever-increasing trade turnover? Is the state ready for further growth in trade with Asian countries through the Far East, and what are some of the current constraints? What additional technological and infrastructure solutions and digital innovations are needed for sustainable work in new directions? What problems exist in logistics through the Russian Far East for these new destinations? What additional government support measures could help Russian companies create new sustainable logistics chains?

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

Speakers:
Vladimir Ivin — Deputy Head, Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation
Ekaterina Lyakhova — Chief Executive Officer, Delo

Cooperation between Russia and China is expanding. The transformation of the global market situation opens up new areas for this cooperation, creating space for the implementation of joint projects. Emerging barriers are rapidly turning into opportunities thanks to the efforts of interested institutions and business communities of the two countries.The steady increase in trade and economic turnover between Russia and China brings the currently lagging potential of investment cooperation and its practical aspects to the forefront. The key task is to ensure a stable flow of investments in both directions, primarily in the hi-tech sector. The creation of joint ventures and cross-border scientific and technological innovation zones, transfer of technologies and the exchange best investment practices for the development of Russia and China are issues that could serve as the focus of Russia–China bilateral cooperation in the coming years. Participants in the session will give their expert opinions on a number of issues: What initiatives can be launched to strengthen investment cooperation between Russia and China? What factors and challenges are slowing down the pace of practical interaction between the two sides? What mechanisms and infrastructure elements can be put in place to facilitate investment flows between Russia and China? What is the future of the tech sector in Russia–China relations? And what are the main areas of joint development in this field?

Moderators:
Zhou Liqun — Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia
Alexey Maslov — Director, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Speakers:
Olga Basha — Senior Vice President, Head of International Settlements Development Department, VTB Bank
Artem Zasurskiy — Vice President for International Development, JSFC Sistema
Alexander Ivlev — Co-Chairman of the Executive Committee, Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC); Advisor, B1 Group
Vladimir Kolmogorov — General Director, En+
Alexey Repik — Chairman, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) (online)
Zhang Hanhui — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation
Ke Jin — General Director, New New Shipping
Liao Jiasheng — General Director, China Logistics Group
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Ma Yunxiang — Deputy General Director, China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited

Front row participants:
Andrey Borodin — Partner for IT and Telecommunications, Ingvarr Advisory and Trust
Li Yongjun — General Director for Russia and CIS, China Faw Group

Creating a comfortable living environment and social infrastructure in the Arctic is crucial to the development of the mineral-rich territory and the realization of its economic potential. Providing citizens with comfortable housing is one of the most important factors in curbing the outflow of population from the Arctic zone. At the same time, the Arctic is a region with extreme climatic conditions that are unsuitable for construction: low temperatures are observed there for most of the year. Construction work in the Arctic is also complicated by a major increase in the depth of permafrost thawing, which reduces the load-bearing ability of the soil. The problem of insufficient housing construction is also particularly relevant considering the major increase in the amount of dilapidated and emergency housing each year. The low temperatures related to the significant heat losses and permafrost soil that are typical for the Arctic zone require the use of special methods and technologies when constructing permanent buildings and structures, including residential ones (e.g., the construction of pile foundations, which increase construction costs by 20–40%). What are some of the specific aspects of how advanced technologies are developed and introduced for the construction of major housing projects in Russia’s Arctic zone that ensure the safety of facilities and the efficient spending of budget funds? What experience has been gained from the Affordable Rental Housing in the Far Eastern Federal District programme and its extension to the Arctic zone? How effective are state support measures for the parties involved in the implementation of housing construction projects?

Moderator:
Alena Rogozina — Special Correspondent, Russia-1 TV Channel

Speakers:
Andrey Grachev — Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs, Norilsk Nickel
Alexander Levintal — Managing Director for the Far East, DOM.RF
Aleksandr Prygunkov — Managing Partner, Samolet Group of Companies
Nikita Stasishin — Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation
Elena Stepanova — Director of Strategic Development, PIK-Specialized Homebuilder
Oleg Shulyatyev — Deputy Director for Research, Gersevanov Research Institute of Bases and Underground Structures (NIIOSP)

The culture of philanthropy in Russia has shifted dramatically over the past decades: from providing one-off assistance to people in difficult life situations to the systematic activities of major corporations to address social issues in the regions where they operation, closely cooperate with the government, and collaborate with non-profit organizations and other entities involved in the social ecosystem. People-centricity has become one of the most important conceptual focuses for business and NPOs, and social investments have become more comprehensive. Business and the non-profit sector have made a major achievement by building partnerships, not only in the donor-beneficiary format, but also by hiring non-profits as professional consultants and agencies that can solve social problems. What social initiatives help to bolster positive public sentiment? How has the interaction changed between business, government, the non-profit sector, and the media? How does business understand philanthropy today, what place does it occupy in a company’s social agenda, and what role does it play in the development of regions? What successful examples of social partnerships between multiple sectors have emerged in response to the challenges seen in recent years?

Moderator:
Anton Dolgov — Executive Director, Presidential Grants Foundation

Speakers:
Olga Batalina — First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Anna Zhigulskaya — Head of the Project Office for Internal Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Rosatom
Vera Podguzova — Senior Vice President, Director of External Relations Directorate, Promsvyazbank
Miroslava Sergeenko — Founder, President, Charitable Foundation "Oncology"

Enhancing the availability of medical care for rural residents is one of the top priorities for preserving the Russian population. The development of modern digital and remote technologies, as well as the digital transformation of medical care, are making it possible to conduct more high-tech diagnostics and shorten the period needed to provide medical care. What technologies are already available to help residents of remote areas? How can we improve the quality of preventive and emergency care at medical and obstetric stations? What modern solutions have proven to be effective?

Speakers:
Alexey Altynbaev — Head, POLIMED
Lyubov Drozdova — Head of the Polyclinic Therapy Laboratory, National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Chief Visiting Specialist in Medical Prevention of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (online)
Elena Zhidkova — Head, Central Directorate of Healthcare – a branch of the Russian Railways
Valentina Peterkova — Deputy Director of the Scientific Centre and Director of the Institute of Pediatric Endocrinology, National Medical Research Centre for Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Chief External Specialist Paediatric Endocrinologist of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (online)

In the context of the large-scale changes that are taking place in the economy of the Russian Far East, where centres of economic growth and major investment projects are being created and migration outflow is on the decline, people are starting to call for a better standard of living, for the creation of cultural centres and modern spaces. In short, the potential for the development of the creative industries is being formed. The federal law “On the development of creative industries in the Russian Federation” signed this year provided a definition of the creative industries and created clusters, as well as a list of sectors that are part of the creative industries. The document also stated that the main powers in regulating the field rest in the hands of individual Russian regions themselves. In order for the law to work in practice, the process of working out a strategy for the development of the creative industry in the Russian Far East has begun. The main provisions of this strategy will be discussed at the session. Which creative industry (sector of the creative economy) has the potential to make the greatest contribution to the economy of the Russian Far East? What kind of government support will produce a positive effect? Who can be counted on? What creative specializations do different regions of the Far East possess?

Moderator:
Mikhail Khomich — Chief Managing Director, Chief Strategist, VEB.RF

Speakers:
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Dmitry Makhonin — Governor of Perm Territory
Vitaly Ten — Founder, Animation Studio Mechtalet
Ekaterina Cherkes-zade — Director of the Center for the Development of Creative Economy, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

Front row participants:
Tatyana Karavaeva — Deputy General Director, Center for Strategic Research
Artur Tumanyan — Project Producer, Club of Cheerful and Resourceful

Spitsbergen is a unique archipelago that lies beyond the Arctic Circle at the entrance to the Arctic Ocean, just 900 kilometres from the North Pole. It is a place where transport routes, ocean currents, different peoples, and various types of lush northern fauna all intersect. Since ancient times, people have hunted for whale meat and walrus tusks here. In the 20th century, it was home to coal mining, but now a new era has arrived, as tourism and science are becoming the most important focuses on the islands. The territory’s international status ensures equal access for all countries that are parties to the treaty on economic and scientific activities on Spitsbergen. Russia has maintained a presence on Spitsbergen since the 16th century, when Russian Pomors, or seasiders, set up regular trading posts. At present, the Russian villages of Pyramiden, Barentsburg, and Grumant are among the island’s tourism pearls and provide basic infrastructure for scientific activities. The region’s uniqueness, international status, as well as the keen interest of all countries in Arctic research offer opportunities to develop an international scientific centre here. What would be the priority focuses of an international scientific centre on the archipelago? How can it attract international partners? What opportunities would a scientific centre in the BRICS space provide? What material resources would be required? What kind of specialists would need to be trained to develop science on Spitsbergen?

Moderator:
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Center for System Transformations, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)

Speakers:
Anurag Bisen — Senior Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation
Jawahar Bhagwat — Associate Professor of the Department of Regional Studies, International Relations and Political Science, Higher School of Social Sciences and Humanities and International Communication, Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (online)
Alexander Makarov — Director, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (online)
Ildar Neverov — General Director, State Trust Arktikugol
Maria Nikishova — Head of Sustainable Development, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)

The cooperation format proposed by Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov in 1998 involving the largest countries of Eurasia (Russia–India–China) would go on to become a key element of the system of international relations and laid the foundations for the formation of BRICS and a number of other international institutions. The geopolitical, geo-economic, resource, technological, and logistics potential of the RIC countries means that they play leading roles in the global economic system. The successful development of the economies of Russia, India, and China in many ways depends on deepening interaction between the three countries in a trilateral format, including the search for synergy and balancing national interests. The entire global economic system is transforming, and new challenges are emerging. And the range of promising areas of cooperation is expanding as a result: the need to develop a system of guaranteed supplies of raw materials and finished products in the context of the sanctions policies is transformed for the RIC countries into the need to create regional Eurasian markets for goods, services, capital, and labour, which, in turn, requires the development of new transport corridors that “sew” the RIC countries and the Greater Eurasian space together; and the growth or international financial instability creates the need to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar in international settlements and develop joint solutions for regional payment systems within RIC and BRICS. The development of multilateral formats of interaction between RIC and BRICS holds significant potential for all of the countries involved and requires active discussion. How will the RIC format develop in the context of the expansion of the BRICS association and the further movement of the global economy towards multipolarity? How are competitive and cooperative practices balanced out in the process of Russia building trade and investment cooperation with China and India? How is energy cooperation developing between the three countries? What new opportunities for realizing the economic potential of Russia, India, and China will emerge as transport and logistics corridors in the Eurasian region continue to develop? What are the prospects for building a system of international settlements based on national currencies within the BRICS framework given the policies adopted by the countries towards de-dollarization? What new areas of cooperation between Russia, India, and China in science and education are emerging in the context of common energy, technological, and economic challenges?

Moderator:
Igor Maksimtsev — Rector, Saint Petersburg State University of Economics

Speakers:
Stanislav Tkachenko — Expert, Valdai International Discussion Club
Juan Yunsong — Professor, Associate Dean, School of International Studies, Sichuan University (online)

Front row participants:
Evgeniy Griva — Deputy Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India (online)
Tatyana Terentyeva — Rector, Vladivostok State University

Training human resources is an essential condition for the sustainable development of the Far East. New projects require new approaches, including in public administration. The Muravyov-Amursky 2030 programme is not just an opportunity for career growth, but a full-fledged educational platform that can be used to train young professional managers. Their primary goal is to work for the benefit of the Far East and Russia. Many of the programme’s graduates have moved to the Far East with their families from other regions of the country and already become integrated into regional, municipal, and federal government bodies. They work to develop the economy, infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, the social sector, and education. By completing the programme and building a career in the civil service, the graduates have gained personal experience in mentoring, project work, and adaptation in the workplace. What tools does the programme offer? How are graduates realizing their potential? What challenges do they face?

Speakers:
Ayan Gavrilev — Head of Development of Unmanned Aerial Systems, Center for Industrial Development of Primorsky Krai; Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Timur Gomboev — Head of the Administration Department of the Head of the Republic of Buryatia; Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Maria Zaychenko — Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Mariya Karpova — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Aleksandra Lebedeva — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Kamchatka Territory
Alexander Leonov — Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Aisen Nikolaev — Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
Vera Shcherbina — First Vice-Governor – Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory

An in-depth discussion needs to be held about certain key issues concerning international commercial arbitration, taking into account the experience of arbitration institutions in Russia, China, India, Singapore, and other Asia-Pacific countries, as well as expanded cooperation in such matters. What are the main focuses in the drafting of legislation on international commercial arbitration in Asia-Pacific countries? How is foreign law and language being applied to resolve international commercial disputes? What are some of the specific aspects of dispute resolution concerning merchant shipping? How can we apply digital technologies to resolve foreign economic disputes? What are the best practices for enforcing the decisions of international commercial arbitrations in the territories of Asia-Pacific countries?

Moderator:
Sergey Katyrin — President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

Speakers:
Anna Arkhipova — Deputy Chairman, Maritime Arbitration Commission at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (video message)
Hemant Gupta — Chairman, Indian International Arbitration Center (video message)
Alexey Kostin — Chairman, The International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (video message)
Igor Krasnov — Chief Lawyer, Head of the Legal Unit, VEB.RF
Prashant Kumar — President, The Bar Association of India
Dmitriy Podshibyakin — Director, Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Natalia Prisekina — Executive Secretary, Branch of the International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Vladivostok
Cunyuan Zhang — Head (China), Singapore International Arbitration Centre
Harvey Yan — Senior Partner, Zhong Yin Law Firm

The key goal of the Far East’s demographic policy is to create conditions for a sustainable increase in the birth rate. To this end, the macro-region is implementing special measures to support families with children: the Far East demographic package and the Far East mortgage programme. Since 2023, the Primorsky Territory has been implementing a pilot project to increase payments to RUB 1 million to pay off mortgage obligations for the birth of a third or subsequent child. In 2024, based on instructions from the Russian president, this project was extended to seven other Far Eastern regions with low birth rates. What system of measures to support the birth rate is needed at the new stage of the country’s demographic policy in the Far East? What support measures are most relevant and in demand among families with children today? How can the effectiveness of demographic measures in the region be increased? What modern social innovative technologies could be used to scale up measures in the Far East? What measures for the demographic development of the Far East will be included in the Family national project?

Moderator:
Sergey Rybalchenko — General Director, Scientific and Public Expert Evaluation Institute; Chairman of the Social Policy Committee, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia)

Speakers:
Konstantin Abramov — General Director, All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center Foundation (VTsIOM); Chairman, Public Council under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Lilia Ovcharova — Vice Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Inna Svyatenko — Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (online)

Russia created unique preferential regimes in the Kuril Islands in 2022. Since then, the 24 companies that have become residents of these regimes have invested over RUB 5 billion and created more than 400 jobs. Three companies have implemented projects, including a surfing camp, glamping site, and a hotel. Tourism and fish processing are the main business activities on the Kuril Islands. There are around 20 hotels on the islands (Iturup Island, Kunashir, and Shikotan), which received more than 50,000 tourists in 2023. Ecological and cruise tourism are among the most promising areas for further development. To attract new investors to the Kuril Islands, there are two preferential regimes (the Kurils Advanced Special Economic Zone and the Kuril Islands of the Russian Federation), but they need to be improved by lifting restrictions in the Russian Tax Code and expanding the boundaries of the former. How can we increase the investment appeal of the Kuril Islands? What needs to be done at the legislative level to achieve this? What is the best way to attract foreign investors in the current conditions?

Speakers:
Sergey Bachin — General Director, Vasta Discovery
Igor Bukharov — President, Federation of Restaurateurs & Hoteliers of Russia; Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality, Institute of Industry Management, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Herman Vasyukhnik — General Director, Utari
Anton Zaytsev — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region
Kirill Kamenev — Deputy General Director for Investment Attraction, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation
Janna Kira — President, Glamping Support Association

The process of sovereignization and the establishment of borders in the digital space is a key issue on the agenda of every single country around the world. At the same time, the issue of ensuring the digital sovereignty of individuals and citizens requires special attention in the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence, adaptive technologies, and the personalization of online content. Data is the “new gold”. More than that, data drives the course and pace of the development of new technologies – from training generative networks to the emergence of deepfakes. The issue is even more relevant when it comes to the processing and protection of personal data. The digital sovereignty of the individual is ensured by legal mechanisms that allow the person to independently determine and control the dissemination of their personal information and data, as well as to filter and configure the confidentiality of incoming and outcoming information flows. It is important to understand that the digital sovereignty of a citizen is impossible if the state does not take proper measures to ensure a reliable digital infrastructure and safeguard citizens from digital threats, which together should act as a guarantor of the right of citizens to self-determination in the digital space. What does digital sovereignty of the individual entail? What are the state’s priority tasks when it comes to ensuring the digital sovereignty of citizens? How can a balance be found between ensuring personal data protection and national security? What can we do to encourage market participants to pursue a policy that would actively protect the digital sovereignty of individuals?

Moderator:
Elina Sidorenko — General Director, White Internet; Director of the Center for Digital Economy and Financial Innovation, Professor, MGIMO University; Member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights

Speakers:
Sergey Lebed — Vice President of Cyber Security, Sberbank
Dmitriy Miklukho — Senior Vice President, Director of the Department of Information Security, Promsvyazbank
Sergey Plugotarenko — General Director, Digital Economy
Vladislav Povolotsky — General Director, Center for Biometric Technologies
Danil Filippov — Deputy Head of the Investigation Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

To ensure the proper spatial development of the Far East, it is crucial to not only understand the bottlenecks of the regional economy, but also the needs of its people. This includes both consumers and businesses that are ready to meet and correctly guide consumer demand. The tourism industry, which has the highest economic multiplier, is one the main sectors that can help plan the proper spatial development of the regions of the Far East and influence the country’s economy as a whole. And big data and modern media are the main tools for this. Big data can ensure proper interaction among all the parties involved in this process: consumers, businesses, media, and the regional economy. Properly structured data exchanges make it possible to quickly and effectively determine the capabilities of regions and regulate tourist flows, prices, and consumer needs. Regions with well-developed tourism infrastructure that are able to cleverly work with big data receive a powerful economic boost that is sufficient to increase the investment appeal of the regions and even improve their demographic and migration numbers. How can we use big data and the capabilities of new media to plan the construction of new infrastructure, calculate and stimulate economic growth, and, ultimately, create a modern model of the travel and recreation industry? Should we build a marketing strategy and an attractive domestic tourism brand?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Economic Observer

Speakers:
Elena Veselova — Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Carlton Hotel
Yuliya Morozova — Deputy Chairman, Government of Kamchatskiy Krai