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?

Moderator:
Sergey Zhdanov — Managing Director, Director of the Health Industry Center, Sberbank

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?

Moderator:
Ivan Ryutov — First Deputy Director, RK Insurance Broker

Speakers:
Dmitriy Aksakov — Vice-President, VEB.RF
Timur Belikov — Executive Vice President, Gazprombank
Sergey Gavrilov — Сhairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Property, Land and Property Relations
Olga Dergunova — Deputy President and Chairman of the Management Board, VTB Bank
Igor Fedorov — General Director, RC Complex Systems

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:
Yaroslav Aleynik — General Director, Omega
Iskander Bariev — Director, Innopolis University
Svetlana Gorchakova — Deputy Director General, ANO "Federal Competence Center in Labor Productivity" (FCC)
Maksim Gurbashkov — General Director, InnoDrive
Artem Lukin — Chief Executive Officer, TECHNORED
Alexey Mazalov — General manager, Additive Technologies Center
Valeiy Piven — Director, Department of Machine Tool Building and Heavy Engineering, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation

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:
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
Nikolay Stetsko — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory
Sergey Tarusov — Chairman, Lenin Collective Farm Fishery
Nikolay Shablikov — Head of the Board of Directors, Nordic Engineering

Front row participant:
Lyudmila Talabaeva — Member of the Committee of the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management

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?

Moderator:
Alexander Blagov — Vice President, Kurchatov Institute National Research Centre

Speakers:
Igor Drozdov — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Artem Lukin — Chief Executive Officer, TECHNORED
Vladimir Nelyub — Vice-Rector for Research, Far Eastern Federal University
Aleksandr Petrov — Member of the Management Board, Executive Director, SIBUR
Ruslan Sarkisov — General Partner, Voskhod Venture Capital
Anatoly Semenov — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Elena Kharisova — General Director, Fund for the Development of Innovative Scientific and Technological Center "Russky"
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic (online)

Front row participant:
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

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:
Sergey Belyakov — President, National Association of Non-State Pension Funds
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
Sergey Mytenkov — Vice President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)
Anton Nemkin — Member of the State Duma Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on information policy, information technology and communications
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
Artem Sheikin — Member of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Constitutional Legislation and State Building

Front row participant:
Nikita Filippov — Head, "De jure" Bureau of Lawyers

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
Xie Weidong — Director, Center for Scientific, Technical, Trade and Economic Cooperation "Weilai" ("Future")
Denis Gros — Chairman of the Interregional Branch for the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia); General Director, MC DA! Development
Denis Kanataev — Commercial Director, Far-Eastern Shipping Company
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
Andrei Minaev — Director, Industrial Park Primorye
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

In recent years, China has become Russia's largest exporter of automobiles, and the share of Chinese brands in the automotive industry in the Russian Federation has increased to 90%, both in the passenger and the commercial vehicle segments. The market change brings with it a reshaping of logistics chains and new needs to maintain the country's existing fleet. New manufacturing associations are being created, products are being localized, and previously unfamiliar brands are entering the everyday lives of Russians and forming radically new consumer habits and patterns. The most important role in these processes is objectively played by Chinese business, which is actively operating in Russia. Taking leading positions in such areas as passenger transport, spare parts production, and innovative technologies in the automotive industry. What are the trends and prospects for the development of the Russian automotive market and automotive exports from China? What are the direct and indirect measures to stimulate automotive industry activities for Chinese enterprises in Russia? The new era of automotive industry in China, innovations, and modern solutions. What does the future hold for the automotive industry? What supply chains for auto parts and cars exist in China? How has the modern automotive retail market in the Russian Federation been formed? What progress has been made by Chinese car manufacturers in Russia? New forms of sales: B2B marketplace on the Russian automotive market. Do you know about them and how it works? What customized solutions are used in the production of special vehicles to meet the specific needs of the Russian market? What is consumer behavior on the vehicle market? Trends in trucks and cars industry.

Moderator:
Natalia Rusova — Director of AUTO Division, Sberbank PJSC

Speakers:
Chen Dezhi — President of the Changchun Committee, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade
Jin Lijiang — Professor, Jilin University
Zhou Liqun — Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia
Li Long — President Committee of Commerce with CIS Countries of the China-European Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation
Alexey Podshchekoldin — President, Russian Automobile Dealers Association (ROAD)
Liu Xiren — Director of International Sales Department of Chengli Special Automobile Co. Ltd.

Modern digital platforms are playing an increasingly important role in people’s lives by providing access to goods, services, and information that had previously been limited due to geographical or economic barriers. Platforms not only open up new horizons for business and strengthen connectivity between different regions, but also help to improve people’s quality of life through access to new opportunities. The platform economy regularly employs 3.5 million people (4.9% of all people employed in Russia), who are attracted by its flexibility, remote formats, additional income, and much more. For the national economy, platform employment generates tangible socioeconomic benefits: regions are actively developing their own information and educational platforms, it offers services to discuss legislative bills and engage in other manners of civic participation, the transport, construction, tourism, and finance sectors are being transformed into platforms, and local marketplaces are developing. As platform solutions are integrated into the transport sector, digital platforms adhere to the key principle of maintaining mobility as a service. Since platforms combine various modes of transport into a single solution, users can plan and take trips in any format that is convenient for them. One key effect of such platform solutions is that they eliminate digital and infrastructural inequality, which is particularly important for remote regions. Expanding access to digital services and improving transport accessibility helps to equalize opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their location. How will the platform economy contribute to regional development? How are digital platforms helping to reduce digital and infrastructural inequality in the regions? What measures are needed to ensure equal access to transport and digital services? What prospects exist for the development of new platform solutions in the Far East?

Moderator:
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners

Speakers:
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Anton Petrakov — Director for Government Relations, Yandex Taxi
Andrey Samokhin — General Director, National PPP Center; Chief Executive Officer, VEB.RF
Vladislav Fedulov — Managing Director for Government Relations, Avito
Andrey Sharonov — Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Association of Digital Platforms

Front row participants:
Gorbacheva Irina — Deputy Chairman of the Government for Infrastructure, Government of the Khabarovsky Krai
Sergey Dmitrienko — First Deputy Head of the City of Vladivostok

For the first time, national development goals have been tasked with creating a data market and tying a new entity to the course set for the digital transformation of public administration. High-quality data collected and processed professionally is a resource of increasing importance to all participants of the economic process. And it is the state’s job to ensure the preservation and development of this resource and that all interested parties can access it. Russia is preparing to launch a new national project: ‘Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State’, which will be presented at the Eastern Economic Forum 2024. Who will it benefit most of all? Will business, individuals, and society be able to strike a compromise on how to manage and profit from this data resource? What role should the state play in the data market?

Moderator:
Mikhail Oseevskiy — President, Rostelecom

Speakers:
Dmitriy Grigorenko — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Chief of the Government Staff
Daria Kozlova — Director of Education, Yandex
Andrey Kuzyaev — President, Member of the Board of Directors, ER-Telecom Holding
Vladimir Stepanov — President, Aquarius
Vladislav Fedulov — Managing Director for Government Relations, Avito

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 with the support of their Chinese partners 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 how relevant is this for China?

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)
Wu Jie — Chairman of the Board, Guangzhou Milestone Software Co.; Researcher at the Center for Economic and Social Integration and Forecasting, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) (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, Ingvarr Zhong Yin (online)

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
Dmitry Kudlay — Vice President for the Introduction of New Medical Technologies, Generium
Vinay Kumar — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation
Evgeniy Salkov — Chief Executive Officer, Rosatom Service
Nikolay Stetsko — Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Primorsky Territory
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

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:
Evgeny Khilinsky — Vice President, Head of the Centre for Implementation of Sustainable Development Principles, Gazprombank

Speakers:
Dmitriy Aksakov — Vice-President, VEB.RF
Maksim Gubanov — Head of the Direction of Energy and Housing and Communal Services, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation
Alexey Zhikharev — Director, Russia Renewable Energy Development Association; Director, ENSOLVE
Anton Kovalevsky — General Director, H2Invest (online)
Sergey Komyshan — Member of the Board, Executive Director, SIBUR
Vitaly Korolev — Deputy Head, Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation
Abdullah Malek — Head of Energy Transition, Office of the UAE Special Representative on Climate Change at COP 28 (online)
Elena Myakotnikova — Member of the Executive Committee, Director of Sustainable Development, RUSAL
Ainur Sospanova — Chairman of the Board, Qazaq Green RES Association (online)

Global customer service trends are challenging public administration in new ways. The modern reality is that people want services tailored to them, and they want them to be simple and convenient. It is a global standard Russia has been introducing systematically to its work with private individuals and businesses nationally since 2022. This new approach assumes a connection between a service and a specific situation, making it possible to resolve issues immediately when, for example, starting a business, relocating, or participating in a sporting event. However, to change the way we deliver services, civil servants themselves must become more client centred. What are the specific situations in question, and how do they apply to the Far East? What is the outlook for becoming more client centered, and what challenges await us as we do?

Moderator:
Maria Kiseleva — Deputy, Moscow City Duma; Director, Theatre on Water; Three -Time Olympic Champion in Synchronous Swimming

Speakers:
Dmitriy Grigorenko — Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Chief of the Government Staff
Alexander Dolgov — Entrepreneur, Expert in franchising
Valery Limarenko — Governor of Sakhalin Region
Svetlana Romashina — Seven-Time Olympic Champion in Synchronized Swimming
Vladimir Solodov — Governor of Kamchatka Territory

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
Dmitry Volvach — Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (online)
Kirill Dmitriev — Chief Executive Officer, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)
Zhou Liqun — Chairman, Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia
Robert Mirzoyan — Chief Executive Officer, RWB and Russ Group; Member of the Coordinating and General Councils, All-Russian Public Organization "Business Russia"
Artem Sokolov — President, The Association of Internet Trade Companies
Mikhail Khomich — Chief Managing Director, Chief Strategist, VEB.RF; Special Projects Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects (ASI)
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

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:
Sergey Gromak — Vice President for External Affairs and Shareholder Relations, AVTOVAZ
Irina Kazovskaya — Chairman, Aluminum Association
Leonid Kalashnikov — Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots
Denis Kanataev — Commercial Director, Far-Eastern Shipping Company
Anatoly Kiyashko — Director for Interaction with Government Authorities and Corporate Partners, KAMA Automobile Company
Pavel Lyakhovich — Member of the Management Board, Executive Director, SIBUR LLC
Vyacheslav Spirov — General Director, Gazprombank Leasing
Tadzio Schilling — Chief Executive Officer, Association of European Businesses (АЕВ)

Front row participant:
Igor Mayorov — General Director, Meteor Lift

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
Vladimir Volkov — First Deputy General Director for Integrated Projects and Strategic Development, Roads and Bridges
Lev Gorilovskiy — Chairman of the Board of Directors, POLIPLASTIC Group
Sergey Komyshan — Member of the Board, Executive Director, SIBUR
Alexey Molsky — Deputy Director General for Investment and Capital Construction, Rosseti
Sergey Khmura — Deputy Director, Investment Attraction Agency of the Amur Region

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 — Advisor to the General Director, State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom

Speakers:
Darya Borisova — Member of the Board – Managing Director for Development and Innovations, SIBUR
Konstantin Gibalo — Venture Partner, Voskhod Venture Capital
Igor Drozdov — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Igor Kobzev — Governor of Irkutsk Region
Alexander Korsunsky — Professor, Skoltech Center for Systems Engineering

Cyberfraud - a new pandemic? In the world of digital technology that rapidly changes our daily lives, cyberfraud crosses borders, scales out and becomes more elaborate, just like during a pandemic. Recent pandemic lessons teach us that new approaches and special measures are required. At the session, we will discuss the specific measures needed to be adopted on the international level to contain this threat.

Moderator:
Stanislav Kuznetsov — Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank

Speakers:
Andrey Akulchev — Chief Counselor of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Head of The Russian Delegation at the UN Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes
Petr Gorodov — Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Li Long — President Committee of Commerce with CIS Countries of the China-European Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation
Artem Sheikin — Member of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Constitutional Legislation and State Building

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:
Maria Zakharova — Director, Department of Information and the Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
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:
Egor Bespyatov — Director, Yakov and Partners
Elena Veselova — Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Carlton Hotel
Ayan Gavrilev — Head of Development of Unmanned Aerial Systems, Center for Industrial Development of Primorsky Krai; Graduate of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program
Dmitry Mednikov — Managing Director, Russian Media Group
Yuliya Morozova — Deputy Chairman, Government of Kamchatskiy Krai