Russia’s Arctic zone is not only the largest resource base in the country, but also spreads out over nine regions and is the largest special economic zone in the world. Today, both the already proven and popular Far Eastern preferential regimes (advanced special economic zones and the Free Port of Vladivostok) and the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF), which were purposely developed to access the remote, lightly populated, and harsh territory of the Far North, are successfully operating in the Russian Arctic. Despite the turbulence of the global economy and the heightened sanctions pressure this year, several major and strategically important investment projects that aim to extract and process various natural resources (mineral, energy, water, biological, etc.) continue to be implemented today in Russia’s Arctic zone. What do the prospects look like for cooperation between Russia and Asian countries in the Arctic? What opportunities does the development of the Northern Sea Route create as new logistics chains are built? What projects in the Russian Arctic might be the most interesting for long-term investment?

Moderator:
Elena Lazko — Partner, Head of Strategy and Operations, Kept

Panellists:
Roman Berdnikov — First Deputy General Director, Member of the Management Board, RusHydro
Andrey Grachev — Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs, Norilsk Nickel
Ekaterina Lyakhova — Director for Business Development, The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Oleg Melnikov — Executive Vice President – Head of the Department of Banking Support for Contracts, Gazprombank
Igor Semenov — Executive Director, First Ore Mining Company
Georgy Smirnov — General Director, Nordgold Management

Front row participants:
Mikhail Denisov — Advisor to the Director General on Interaction with Public Authorities, Stenmix Holding Limited
Nikita Dobroslavskiy — Head of the Laboratory for Low Carbon and Circular Economy, Center for Sustainable Development, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO
Ildar Neverov — Acting General Director, State Trust Arktikugol
Aleksey Struchkov — General Director, Yakutskenergo

In the rapidly changing geopolitical environment, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will see its role grow as one of the main stabilizing forces in Eurasia in both security and economic development. In September 2022, the next Summit of the Heads of State Council of SCO Member States will take place in Samarkand. The council plans to consider the current state and prospects for the further development of multilateral cooperation and identify priorities and practical measures to expand the activities of the SCO at the present stage. Particular attention will be paid to enhancing the organization’s role in world affairs in light of the emerging geopolitical realities. How should the SCO play its role in the new emerging multipolar and multilateral world? What contribution can Arab and South Asian countries make to the organization’s work? What issues should be included in the SCO’s agenda in order to counteract the unconstructive policy of countries that are unfriendly to Russia and seek to undermine the organization’s influence?

Moderator:
Kirill Babaev — Acting Director, Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Panellists:
Rashid Alimov — Professor, Taihe Institute; Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (2016–2018) (online)
Kirill Barsky — Acting Head of the Department of Diplomacy, Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Vladimir Ivin — Deputy Head, Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Grigory Logvinov — Deputy Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (online)
Kumar Rajan — Associate Professor, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (online)
Sergey Storchak — Senior Banker, VEB.RF
Sun Zhuangzhi — Director, Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (online)

Tectonic changes in the architecture of international relations create a new reality. In the emerging diverse world, the hegemony of a limited group of Western countries is impossible neither economically, nor geopolitically, nor culturally, and most states independently determine the priorities of their foreign and foreign economic policy. Russia’s potential, its political and economic capabilities are one of the most important pillars of a more fair international order. Such order is emerging before our eyes. It is based on large regional centers of development and cooperation connected with each other, which together constitute the world system, but each of them is independent and largely self-sufficient. International cooperation without universal equalization is the principle of the future arrangement. The junction points of the centers will play the most important role, and this is precisely the function of the Russian Far East. To do this, the region needs to develop a large-scale infrastructure of international trade, to strengthen its transport and logistics connectivity with other parts of the country, to increase the availability of human resources and increase production capabilities in cooperation with Asian partners. Most Asian countries are pursuing a friendly or benevolently neutral policy towards Russia. The prospect of expanding cooperation is practically unlimited, there is a complementarity of economies, and unlike in Europe, this is not accompanied by geopolitical rivalry. Building on the existing base, the Far East should in the next decade become not only “Russia’s gateway to Asia”, but a universal hub for the interaction of the most important international partners, an interface for Russia’s involvement in the multipolar world.

Moderator:
Andrei Bystritskiy — Сhairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club

Panellists:
Wang Wen — Executive Dean, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY)
Anastasia Likhacheva — Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Natalia Stapran — Director of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects Department, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Yury Trutnev — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District
B.K. Sharma — Director, United Service Institution of India (USI)

The Eastern Economic Forum has become a key platform for discussing pressing issues involving cooperation between Russia’s Far Eastern regions and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in an effort to improve the welfare of the population in the member countries. Along with developing cooperation in traditional areas, the parties pay special attention to such promising areas as joint environmental and climate programmes based on ESG principles, improving energy efficiency based on sustainable development goals, creating an economic system based on the principles of a circular economy, and developing funding mechanisms that are appropriate for each situation. In October 2021, at the Russia–ASEAN summit that marked the 30th anniversary of their relations, 2022 was declared the Year of Russia–ASEAN Scientific and Technical Cooperation based on the Russian side’s initiative. Today, it is crucial to come up with coordinated steps to move towards the goals that have been set and to identify new growth points and balanced solutions for successful collaboration between the business circles of Russia and ASEAN. What tools can be used to create new long-term sustainable forms of cooperation? What prospects are there for further developing scientific, technical, innovative, and industrial cooperation? How can we build an effective mechanism to jointly exchange practices and expertise, taking into account the sustainable development goals?

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

Panellists:
Nikolay Volobuev — Deputy General Director, Russian Technologies State Corporation
Kan Zaw — Union Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Sergey Katyrin — President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Sergey Korolev — Deputy General Director for Regional Development, Russian Environmental Operator Public Law Company
Alexey Kulapin — General Director, Russian Energy Agency (REA) of the Ministry of Energy of Russia
Didit Ratam — Head of the Bilateral Committee for Russia, Georgia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) (online)
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Front row participants:
Vladimir Averbakh — Senior Managing Director – Head of the Department of National Development AI, Sberbank
Gohar Barseghyan — Director of the Integration Development Department, Eurasian Economic Commission

With access cut off to international licenses, technologies, and equipment, Russia now faces the challenge of creating high-tech solutions within the country. Experts estimate that almost 30% of the advanced technologies used in Russia are still acquired from abroad. Russia must now develop the solutions it needs to meet demand and introduce them in this new economic environment. What key technologies need to be created on the domestic market, and when would it make the most sense to integrate them into the available external technological chains? What role do government procurements play in the development of the high-tech market, and what new tools for small tech companies will accelerate the introduction of promising solutions on the market?

Moderator:
Ruslan Sarkisov — General Director, Voskhod Management Company

Panellists:
Maxim Basov — General Director, SUEK
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Mikhail Gordin — Acting Rector, Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Ilya Ivantsov — President, Element
Kirill Kaem — Senior Vice-President for Innovations, Skolkovo Foundation
Igor Milashevsky — Chief Executive Officer, GLONASS
Igor Semenov — Executive Director, First Ore Mining Company
Aleksey Uchenov — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Teimuraz Khikhinashvili — Chairman, Israeli–Russian Business Council; Investor, ALMAZ R&P Corp

Front row participants:
Alexey Varyatchenko — General Director, BAS; Director of Digital Asset Management, GTLK (online)
Anatoly Semenov — Minister of Innovations, Digital Development and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Oksana Smirnova-Krell — Vice President for Ecosystem Technological Development, Sberbank

2 September 2022 will mark the 77th anniversary since the Socialist Republic of Vietnam declared independence. All these years, the people of Vietnam and Russia have jointly defended national sovereignty and have demonstrated great potential for international cooperation based on mutual respect, trust, and consideration for national interests. Today, Russian-Vietnamese relations are a comprehensive strategic partnership. Trade and economic relations, cooperation in education, science, and modern technologies are increasingly important for the sustainable development of the two countries. The Eastern Economic Forum is an excellent opportunity to discuss the strategic development of cooperation in the interests of both Russia and Vietnam. This year's Forum differs from previous ones. The influence of the Russian Far East on the overall development of the country is increasing significantly. Given the sanctions that unfriendly countries are adopting against Russia, the East is becoming the main direction for strengthening the national economy. On the one hand, these sanctions do create obstacles, but on the other hand they create new opportunities for industry, agriculture, innovation, science, and education. What priorities are on the agenda today? What are the national interests? What must be done to secure them? What role does the business community of the two countries play in this, and what support can the leadership of the regions and the Federal Centre give them?

Moderator:
Sergey Kochetkov — First Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Media Group "Rossiya Segodnya"

Panellists:
Nikolay Ivanov — Vice-President for the Implementation of State Programmes, Sustainable Development and Forest Policy, Segezha Group; Vice-President, Union of Timber Manufacturers and Exporters of Russia (online)
Sergey Levin — Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Dang Minh Khoi — Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan (online)
Cyril Pacary — General Director, CVLOGRUS
Ngo Sy Hoai — Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association (online)
Vyacheslav Kharinov — Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (online)
Nguyen Hong Thanh — Head, Trade Representation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Vladivostok
Le Truong Son — President, Vietnam Businessmen's Association
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
Andrey Yatskin — First Deputy Speaker, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Yevgeny Vlasov — Acting Vice-Rector for International Relations, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU)
Vasily Grudev — Minister of Investment Policy, Government of the Sakhalin Oblast
Denis Kanataev — Commercial Director, Far-Eastern Shipping Company
Gavril Kirillin — Minister of External Relations and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Sakha Yakutia

This year, climate issues remain a key challenge for most countries around the world. Both abnormal heat waves and turbulence in energy markets affect the prospects for achieving global goals in adapting to climate change. When Russia created a carbon unit trading market it took an important step in this direction. On 1 September the country will introduce the main infrastructure element of this new market: National Registry of Carbon Units. At the same time, a regional experiment on carbon neutrality begins in the Sakhalin region. The island is becoming the centre of carbon regulation in Russia. In accordance with the procedure of the experiment, regulated organizations will be able to claim voluntary carbon units issued as a result of the climate projects’ implementation. Russia has a significant potential for the development of such projects. Along with its own decarbonization, projects like this can become a promising area of international cooperation with various countries, including those in the Asian region. What could the Russian market of voluntary carbon units and fulfilment units look like? What prospects are opened for the national climate agenda through the prism of the Sakhalin experiment? Who will buy units in the Russian market and whether foreign counterparties will be able to participate in this market? Who will be on the supply side? How much can it cost to produce a carbon unit in Russia? And how is the supply/demand ratio generally estimated?

Moderator:
Ekaterina Salugina-Sorokovaya — General Director, International and Comparative Law Research Center

Panellists:
Dmitry Konov — Member of the Council, Russian Chemists Union
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Maksim Reshetnikov — Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Natalya Tretyak — First Vice President, Gazprombank
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Front row participants:
Oksana Gogunskaya — General Director, Kontur
Denis Deryushkin — Deputy General Director - Head of Analytical Center, Russian Energy Agency of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation

In recent years, the Far East has deployed a network of infrastructure that not only aims to ensure economic growth, but also the thorough transformation of the economy and global competitiveness. Despite the substantial results of individual projects, the potential for the development of the Far East has yet to be fully unleashed. The new reality that has taken shape due to unprecedented sanctions has forced Russia to take a fresh look at the functions of each type of investment infrastructure and form a system to ensure the comprehensive economic development of the macro-region. How can we ensure proper interaction between certain types of investment infrastructure: priority development areas, innovative science and technology centres, special economic zones, federal universities, and so on? How can the appeal of existing infrastructure be enhanced for investors? Development infrastructure or job creation infrastructure: should efficiency be the same everywhere? How can the regions build cooperative ties to take advantage of the infrastructure that has been created?

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

Panellists:
Alexey Besprozvannykh — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Viktor Markov — Director, TransContainer
Alexey Repik — Chairman, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia); Chairman of the Board, Group R-Pharm (online)
Alexander Smekalin — Director, Division “Regional Development and Investments”, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects (online)
Elena Kharisova — Vice President for Perspective Projects, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU); General Director, Development Fund of the Innovative Research and Technology Center Russky
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic (online)
Le Truong Son — President, Vietnam Businessmen's Association

Front row participants:
Vyacheslav Alenkov — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region
Tatyana Karavaeva — Vice President, Head of Spatial Development, Center for Strategic Research
Alexander Osipov — Governor of Trans-Baikal Territory
Dmitry Tvardovsky — First Deputy General Director, InfraVEB
Marina Shemilina — Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights in Primorsky Territory

The International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC, established in 1932) and the Maritime Arbitration Commission (MAC, established in 1930) are leading permanent arbitration institutions in Russia and worldwide, operating under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. Each year, the ICAC reviews several hundred international commercial disputes involving companies from 40–60 countries. The ICAC has considered more than 10,000 cases in its history, while the MAC has handled over 4,500 cases in merchant shipping with involvement from companies representing over 70 countries. The unique experience of the ICAC and the MAC at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in resolving arbitration disputes and their recognized international status are especially important in the context of the accelerated development of the economy of the Russian Far East, the promotion of the investment attractiveness of advanced special economic zones and the Free Port of Vladivostok, and the expansion of international economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

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

Panellists:
Ivan Zykin — Professor of the Department of Private International Law, All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Deputy Chairman, International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (online)
Alexey Kostin — Chairman, The International Commercial Arbitration Court, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Elena Popova — Arbitrator, The International Commercial Arbitration Court, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation; Managing Partner, Peregrina Law Firm (online)
Natalia Prisekina — Executive Secretary, The International Commercial Arbitration Court, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Vladivostok
Chen Simin — Chairman, Guangzhou Arbitration Commission (GZAC) (online)
Nikolay Cheptsov — Arbitrator, Maritime Arbitration Commission, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

How strong of an impact do global challenges and world politics have on economic processes, world trade, and manufacturing? Is our understanding of the Russia–Europe economy too centric? Do the pandemic and political conflicts in Eurasia play as important a role for the countries of Africa or Southeast Asia as autonomous and adaptive high-tech, agricultural, and financial markets? Are these challenges driving the emergence of new mechanisms for economic interaction and foreign trade tools?

Moderator:
Artem Malgin — Vice Rector for Development, MGIMO University

Panellists:
Fedor Voytolovskiy — Director, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO)
Konstantin Dolgov — Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Ivan Dun — First Vice President, Head of Syndicated and International Finance Department, Gazprombank
Battogtokh Javzandolgor — Chief Executive Officer, MGIMO Alumni Association in Mongolia
Sergey Levin — Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Ivan Eremin — Chief Executive Officer, FederalPress; Deputy Chairman, Public Council of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
Vladimir Salamatov — General Director, Research Center "International Trade and Integration"; Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Economic Relations with Trading Partner Countries, EAEU Business Council
Enkhtsetseg Sosorbaram — Professor, Department of International Relations, School of International Relations and Public Administration, National University of Mongolia

The economic sanctions that have been imposed against Russia are noteworthy in terms of their scale and intensity, but they are quite common in terms of the instruments that are being used. These tools have certainly had an effect: they are worsening the lives of ordinary people, but they are not an instrument of force. They are not leading to changes in political behaviour. They are not breaking any political will. The current geopolitical situation and sanctions wars have led to the formation of a new world order and are accelerating the end of the era of globalization. The model of globalization itself is being transformed: monopolistic public goods are turning into weapons, and, as a result, the global model of how risks are perceived is changing. New systems of interaction between the parties involved in the world order are actively developing. This results in cooperation between sovereign countries, where the focus is not on the threat of blocking trade and financial flows, but on common benefits for all parties. New systems of agreements are taking shape, as are new channels of cooperation that are more effective, but also expensive. There is growing interest in the use of national and digital currencies when making payments for resources. What will the new model of the world’s existence look like? Are sanctions effective and is it possible to counter them? Can sovereignty be suppressed using economic methods?

Moderator:
Alexey Bobrovsky — Economic Observer

Panellists:
Alexey Gruzdev — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Gruzdev — Chairman of the Board, Association of Lawyers of Russia
Glenn Diesen — Professor, Department of Business, History and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway
Anastasia Likhacheva — Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Dmitry Timofeev — Director of the External Restrictions Control Department, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Sergey Krasilnikov — Vice President, Managing Director of the International Relations and Integration Directorate, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)
Georgy Toloraya — Member of Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 Panel of Experts, UN Security Council
Sohail Khan — Deputy Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (online)

In the context of rapidly changing foreign policy and economic conditions, the Government of the Russian Federation and leaders in the regions are developing new business support tools and improving conditions for existing incentives. This drives domestic competition for investors. What can be done to ensure that the Far Eastern Federal District has the best conditions for doing business in Russia? What are the best practices for supporting investors? What changes should be made to existing incentive regimes in the Far East?

Moderator:
Olga Arkhangelskaya — Partner, Head of Services for Real Estate, Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Companies, B1 Group of Companies

Panellists:
Vitalii Altabaev — Director of the Department for the Development of Priority Territories of the Far East and the Arctic, Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Sergey Zhuravlev — Vice President of Government Relations, Polyus
Nikolay Zapryagaev — General Director, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Andrey Kutepov — Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Orlov — Partner, Head of Tax and Legal, Kept (online)
Pyotr Pak — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Amur Region
Dmitry Savenkov — General Director, Legendagro Primomorye LLC
Anatoly Semenov — Minister of Innovations, Digital Development and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Front row participant:
Sergey Bachin — General Director, Vasta Discovery

In recent years, Russia and India have seen a steady increase in trade turnover. In 2021, Russian-Indian trade amounted to USD 13.5 billion, which is almost 50% higher than in the pandemic year of 2020. The two countries clearly have a colossal pace of development in their trade and economic relations, yet the potential for cooperation has not been fully realized. In particular, in order to reach the goal set by the two countries’ leaders of achieving a mutual trade volume equal to USD 30 billion by 2025, trade and joint projects in addition to investment need to be actively developed. At present, Russia and India are implementing joint projects in various sectors: energy, oil, the military-industrial complex, pharmaceuticals, food, and the chemicals industry. They are also strengthening interbank and insurance cooperation, while the volume of trade and mutual investments in the Far East and the Arctic are gradually increasing. What measures are the governments of the two countries taking to solve transport and logistics problems? Can sea-based transport become a main route? What prospects are there for creating a joint banking and financial entity that is capable of supporting the potential of bilateral trade? What areas of cooperation are top priorities? What new projects with Indian capital are being planned in the Far East?

Moderator:
Ksenia Komissarova — Chief Editor, International media network TV BRICS

Panellists:
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Andrey Velikorodny — Shareholder, Crystal Alliance Shipping
Anurag Jain — Secretary Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India (online)
Anton Zaytsev — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region
Pavan Kapoor — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation
Sanjiv Mehta — President, FICCI; General and Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited (online)
Ivan Nosov — Branch Manager, Sberbank in India
Vikram Singh Punia — President, Pharmasyntez Group of Companies (online)
Alexey Repik — Chairman, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia); Chairman of the Board, Group R-Pharm (online)
Sergey Storchak — Senior Banker, VEB.RF
Somasundaram Subramanian — Founder, General Director, Eurasian Federation of Oncology (EAFO); Chair, Board of Directors, Eurasian Cancer Research Council (ECRC), Mumbai, India
Anna Tsivileva — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kolmar Group
Sergey Cheremin — Minister, Head of the Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations of the City of Moscow, Government of Moscow; Chairman of the Board, Business Council for Cooperation with India (online)

Front row participant:
Alexey Gruzdev — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation

The current economic and foreign policy situation around the world has significantly boosted interest in special administrative regions (SAR) among foreign companies with Russian capital. Businesses are looking for ways to protect assets from sanctions and continue to work comfortably. One such tool is a SAR. There has recently been a growing positive trend in the main indicators among SAR participants on Russky Island. More and more companies are looking at Vladivostok as a reference point for developing cooperation with friendly countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2022, requirements were approved for international holding companies to have a presence in the region in order for them to receive tax benefits, the most important of which is investment of RUB 300 million in regional infrastructure. In addition, Russian holding companies can also receive similar benefits if they meet certain conditions. What kind of results have the SAR on Russky Island had over the past year? What impact have SAR had and will have on the region’s development? What additional measures are needed to comfortably return businesses and boost the popularity of SAR? What prospects exist for infrastructural development on Russky Island? Requirements for having a presence in SAR: does this tool need to be fine-tuned, taking into account the specifics of holding companies and regional features? Are Russian holding companies interested in tax incentives in SAR?

Moderator:
Galina Naumenko — Partner, Leader of Energy, Utilities and Mining Tax Practice, Technologies of Trust

Panellists:
Pavel Volkov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic
Nikolay Stetsko — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Krai
Andrey Tolmachev — General Director, Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation
Ilya Torosov — First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Pavel Sheika — Director of Department for Special Administrative Region Support, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation

The depth and intensity of Russia’s business relations with partners in the East has grown significantly in recent months. If Russia’s strategy in the rapidly changing world is politically based on the BRICS and SCO, what might its economic and technological strategy be based on? Not only the political, but also the economic landscape of the world is changing right before our very eyes. The imperative for numerous countries of Greater Eurasia, as well as for Russia, is to build a common technological and economic space, where platform solutions can be created based on trust and mutual benefit that can compete with leading global corporations. What strategic high-tech alliances do Russia and its partners need? What needs to be done to make them a reality? Who can take the lead in creating them?

Moderator:
Andrey Bezrukov — President, Technological Sovereignty Exports Association; Professor, Department of Applied International Analysis, MGIMO University

Panellists:
Vadim Glushchenko — Director, Center for Global IT-Cooperation
Alexey Gruzdev — Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Andrey Davidyuk — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Motorica
Kirill Menshov — Senior Vice President for Information Technology, Rostelekom
Skannd Tyagi — Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Starshot Ventures (online)
Anna Sharipova — Managing Director for National Projects, Russian Technologies State Corporation

The digital future of Russia is inextricably linked with the successful digital development of the regions. The digital expanses of the Far East and Siberia are already developed territories with extensive infrastructure, their own IT ecosystems, and effective digital solutions that permeate and connect all spheres of life. In industry, the enterprises in these regions are actively substituting imports of software and switching to domestic analogues given the new realities. Public services are preparing to transition to the unified Gostech platform. These processes require greater human resources and the more active involvement of all participants in the digital system. What areas of digital development are the most promising in the regions of the Far East and Siberia? What industrial software are the leading enterprises in the regions using? Are the regions ready to transfer their services to Gostech? How actively are universities and research laboratories participating in projects for the digital transformation of the regions and what is their role? What additional measures to support the IT industry are being implemented in the regions?

Moderator:
Dmitry Chernyshenko — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

Panellists:
Igor Kobzev — Governor of Irkutsk Region
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Viktor Tomenko — Governor of Altai Territory
Andrey Travnikov — Governor of Novosibirsk Region
Sergey Tsivilev — Governor of Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass

Front row participant:
Aisen Nikolaev — Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

Since 2014, 22 advanced special economic zones have been created and remain active in the Far East, while the Free Port of Vladivostok incentive regime has been operating in 22 municipalities across five regions since 2015. In connection with the sanctions policy of unfriendly countries and the pivot East, cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries is taking centre stage. The Far East is becoming a ‘window into Asia’ and is a key region for the production and transportation of goods and services to friendly countries, as well as a platform for joint investment projects in border areas. Exceptional support measures for Russian and foreign investors are needed to create the most attractive conditions in the whole of Russia and bring new business to the macroregion. The current support measures are beginning to lose their uniqueness as other Russian regions are creating exceptional support measures, reducing the competitiveness of the Far Eastern regions. Further to this, founding and running a business in the Far East has always been much more expensive than in other Russian regions. Close cooperation between the state and business is necessary to identify the problems and find solutions. Business conditions must be more favourable than in the rest of Russia, with incentives for financing, unique regulatory conditions and investment protection in place if accelerated economic growth is to be achieved. How can preferential financing mechanisms for businesses be established? What can be done to attract foreign business? How can unique regulatory conditions for business be put in place?

Moderator:
Dmitry Butrin — Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Head of Economic Policy Section, Kommersant Publishing House

Panellists:
Yerkozha Akylbek — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Udokan Copper
Aleksandr Generalov — President, Arnika-Holding
Artem Dovlatov — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF; General Director, VEB.DV
Aleksandr Isayevich — General Director – Chairman of the Management Board, Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation
Mikhail Karisalov — Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, SIBUR
Zhou Liqun — Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia (online)
Anatoly Popov — Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank
Anna Tsivileva — Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kolmar Group
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

A regulatory framework has been created that allows for introducing new tools for the economic development of the Far East. A total of 68 new legislative acts have been adopted to implement and improve legislation on advanced development. Time does not stand still, and to be competitive, updates need to be made constantly. This is why there are already more than a dozen new legislative initiatives in the portfolio. The current tools that are being used for the accelerated development of the Far East region, such as advanced special economic zones and the Free Port of Vladivostok, are quite popular among investors: more than 2,700 investment projects are being implemented with overall investment of more than RUB 6.6 trillion. As part of the preferential regimes that have been created, residents are given tax, land, urban planning, and other preferences. Are the existing legislative standards on preferential regimes effective enough? What legal problems do preferential regime residents face most often? What additional support measures should be provided to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to increase the investment appeal of the Far East? What is needed to develop and create new SMEs in the Far East? What legislative instruments can stimulate growth among small businesses?

Moderators:
Dmitry Boyarko — General Director, Eastern Aqua Paradise
Denis Gros — General Director, Operating Company of the Industrial Park Avangard; Chairman of the Board of the Union of Residents, Territory of Advanced Social and Economic Development

Panellists:
Pavel Volkov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic
Andrey Grachev — Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs, Norilsk Nickel
Vladimir Novikov — Member of the Board of Directors, General Director, VEB Engineering
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

Front row participants:
Ivan Abramov — Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Svetlana Volobueva — Deputy General Director, Sports Shooting Club Topgan
Ludmila Kuznetsova — Shareholder, Poultry Farm Komsomolskaya
Denis Stolypin — General Director, Integrated Logistics Systems
Виктор Усов — Adviser to the Vice President for State and Private Industrial Companies and International Cooperation, Russian Academy of Sciences

The Arctic has been and remains one of the most interesting international regions, both in terms of its constituent institutions as well as the nature of how countries collaborate within it. Up until early 2022, cooperation in the Far North seemed to be among the most stable forms of interaction in the world. But the current geopolitical trends pose a number of new challenges that have taken the importance of international cooperation in the Arctic to a new, even higher level and prompted the need to search for an optimal model of cooperation in the Arctic region. The current geopolitical situation highlights the importance of building flexible formats of interaction. The emergence on the world political map of a substantial number of centres of power that differ in terms of the extent of their information technologies as well as their military and economic potential has created additional demands for the leading players as regards maintaining sustainable ties, including in the Arctic region. One of the priorities of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council is socioeconomic development, which calls for intensifying economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and sustainable navigation in the waters of the Northern Sea Route, in particular through the exchange of experience and practices among Arctic and non-Arctic countries.

Moderator:
Anastasia Likhacheva — Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Panellists:
Taisuke Abiru — Senior Research Fellow, Security Studies Program, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (online)
Jonathan Wood — Researcher, Stefansson Arctic Institute; Representative from National Committee of Iceland, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS); Editor, Peer Reviewer, Nordicum Mediterraneum (online)
Wang Wen — Executive Dean, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY)
Glenn Diesen — Professor, Department of Business, History and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway
Nikolay Korchunov — Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Arctic Council (online)
Artem Lukin — Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU)
Hide Sakaguchi — President, Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Satish Soni — Navy Officer of the Republic of India (1976–2016); Commander-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command and Eastern Naval Command of the Republic of India (2012–2016) (online)
B.K. Sharma — Director, United Service Institution of India (USI)

Front row participant:
Sakiko Hataya — Research Fellow, Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation

The complicated geopolitical situation that has engulfed the world this year has created serious obstacles to building and developing various integration associations. The common economic space in Eurasia, whose establishment has also been significantly impacted by the sanctions policy, has not been immune to this either. What are the main problems and prospects for creating a common economic space in Greater Eurasia? Can complementarity and synergy be achieved in the development strategies of members of the Greater Eurasian Partnership? Does the formation of the Greater Eurasian Partnership have prospects in the foreseeable future based on the principle of the ‘integration of integrations’?

Moderator:
Mikhail Petrov — Deputy General Director, Russian News Agency TASS

Panellists:
Kirill Barsky — Acting Head of the Department of Diplomacy, Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Alexander Vedyakhin — First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank
Dmitry Volvach — Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (online)
Valentin Makarov — President, RUSSOFT Association
Maxim Protasov — Head, Russian Quality System (Roskachestvo) (online)
Andrey Slepnev — Member of the Board, Minister in Charge of Trade, Eurasian Economic Commission
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Despite a serious international turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the strengthening of sanctions, Russian-Chinese economic cooperation continues to grow steadily: between January and July 2022, trade turnover between Russia and China grew by 29% year-on-year, to USD 97.7 billion. The Russian Far East and China present tremendous development opportunities for each other, and joint work is already showing results: full-scale cooperation in the oil and gas sector, agriculture, and other areas is unfolding; the construction of cross-border infrastructure facilities connecting the two countries is advancing at an accelerated pace. In the current environment, industry associations both in Russia and in China are once again playing an important role as open platforms for serving the needs of Russian-Chinese trade and economic cooperation. They are guiding the process of forming new economic ties in the right direction, establishing a dialogue between the administration and business at both the regional and the state levels. At the same time, it is important to hear the real needs of the market and start searching for optimal solutions as soon as possible. Under the new economic order, Russian-Chinese trade and economic cooperation is facing unprecedented challenges, but its prospects are still broad, relying on traditional values of historical friendship and developed mutual trust. Russian-Chinese Friendship Society, which this year celebrates its 65th anniversary, plays an important role in maintaining this relationship. How should the central authorities, regional administrations, enterprises, and industry associations act? What should they do to stimulate mutually beneficial cooperation and joint development in order to achieve the goal of increasing trade turnover to USD 200 billion by 2024? How can they promote truly high-quality cooperation between the two countries? How to improve the investment climate and business conditions in the Far East as new logistical opportunities open up? How to strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector and ensure food security for both countries in the strategic perspective? What are the bottlenecks in trade and economic cooperation and investment activities?

Moderators:
Zhou Liqun — Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia (online)
Sergey Sanakoev — Deputy Chairman, Russian-Chinese Friendship Society; Deputy Chairman, The Russian Part of the Business Council of the Far East of the Russian Federation and the North-East of the People's Republic of China; Member of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)

Panellists:
Oleg Belozerov — Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board, Russian Railways
Sun Guoqiang — President, Zhongding United Dairy Farming Co. Ltd. (online)
Alexey Dakhnovskiy — Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the People's Republic of China (online)
Wang Ruibing — Chairman of the Board of Directors, SPIC Fund Management Company (online)
Eugeny Markin — Executive Director, Russian-Chinese Business Council
Vasily Orlov — Governor of Amur Region
Valeriya Repkova — Vice President, Region Group of Companies; General Director, Project Initiatives Development Agency
Zhao Xiaojia — General Director, KitayStroy
Zhang Hanhui — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation (online)
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
Wang Jun — General Representative, Sinopec Russia and Central Asia
Ji Chunqin — Deputy General Manager, Zhongchengtong International Investment

Front row participant:
Pavel Kalmychek — Director for Bilateral Cooperation Development Department, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

The growing geopolitical tensions between countries on the global political arena has prompted changes in the status of the Arctic region. Given the extent of global competition, countries are striving to implement a comprehensive security strategy that focuses on increasing their presence in different geographical and economic zones. The leading superpowers are attempting to build closer ties between countries within the framework of interregional cooperation. They emphasize a collaborative approach to cooperation in such areas as the economy, maintaining the international rule-based order, deterring potential rivals, developing trade relations, logistics, ensuring environmental prosperity, and risk management. For South Asia, the Arctic is a region that offers opportunities for research and resource policy. South Asia’s position and interests in this region raise many questions, but also underscore the importance of holding discussions at the international level in the new economic realities. What prospects exist for cooperation in the Arctic region? What new opportunities are being created for individual states that do not have direct access to the Arctic due to their vast distance from it?

Moderator:
Maxim Filimonov — Vice President for Government Relations, "Delo" Group of Companies

Panellists:
Datla Bala Venkatesh Varma — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation (2018–2021) (online)
Alexey Zakharov — Research Fellow, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (online)
Nikolay Korchunov — Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Arctic Council (online)
Anastasia Likhacheva — Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Artem Lukin — Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU)
Alexander Makarov — Director, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (online)
K.M. Seethi — Professor, School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University (online)
Satish Soni — Navy Officer of the Republic of India (1976–2016); Commander-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command and Eastern Naval Command of the Republic of India (2012–2016) (online)
B.K. Sharma — Director, United Service Institution of India (USI)

The Kuril archipelago is a chain of 56 large and small volcanic islands. They are part of the Sakhalin Region and stretch north to south from Kamchatka to Sakhalin. The nature of the Kuril Islands is one of the main things that make them so interesting. Their volcanoes (many of which are active), fumarole fields, multi-coloured rocks, lakes, thermal springs, diverse landscapes, and national parks offer outdoor enthusiasts a true paradise. This territory’s potential can only be unleashed by increasing investment activity on the islands. To this end, a unique preferential regime called Kuril Islands was launched in 2022. Now investors in the Kuril Islands enjoy unprecedented tax benefits, reduced insurance premiums, and administrative preferences. What are the initial results of the launch of this preferential regime? What problematic issues need to be solved to increase the investment appeal of the islands? What needs to be done to promote the unique conditions of the preferential regime among potential investors and where should we look for them? Does the territory need to be marketed or are the measures that have already been taken sufficient?

Moderator:
Alexey Karakhan — Traveler

Panellists:
Vasily Grudev — Minister of Investment Policy, Government of the Sakhalin Oblast
Nikolay Zapryagaev — General Director, Corporation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Mikhail Kuznetsov — Director, Eastern State Planning Center (FANU Vostokgosplan)
Elena Lysenkova — Deputy Head, Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm)
Elena Martynova — Deputy Head,The Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr)
Aleksandr Tertychnyy — General Director, Anterra

Front row participants:
Bogdan Bulychev — Traveler; Blogger
Alexey Zhirukhin — Blogger, Traveler, Ambassador of the Arctic
Konstantin Korobkov — Chief Executive Officer, "Yuzhno-Kyrilsky Fish Factory" LTD (YKRK)
Irina Rudyka — Creative producer, VK; Author of the Project "Surfing. Movie. Kuriles"