The International Economic Cooperation Forum as part of the celebration of the 956th Anniversary of Minsk

The International Economic Cooperation Forum organized by the Minsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Minsk City Executive Committee was held at the congress hall of Victoria Olimp Hotel as part of the celebration of the 956^th Anniversary of Minsk. More than 250 foreign and Belarusian business and government representatives fr om 21 world countries attended the event.

The Forum was opened by Vladimir Kukharev, Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Sergey Nabeshko, General Director of the Minsk Branch of the BelCCI, Sergey Fedotov, Vice-Governor of Penza Region, and Zhao Zhongyuan, Director of Director of China Centre for Technology Transfer of SCO Member States. Nadezhda Lazarevich, First Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee delivered the presentation on the investment potential of Minsk, and Elena Dybova, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation – on the effective implementation of small and medium-sized business opportunities in Russian Federation. The possibilities of health tourism in Minsk, and the successful implementation of the UAE construction investment project were presented at the Forum opening.

Vladimir Kukharev, Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, focused on the Forum object, namely full assistance to business for mutual cooperation and progression.

In his speech Sergey Nabeshko, General Director of the Minsk Branch of the BelCCI, noted: "The International Economic Cooperation Forum is a new business platform initiated by the city administration last year as part of Minsk anniversary celebration programme. And last year it aroused a lot of interest. We, as the organizers, are pleased to see that the event is gaining momentum and acquiring its own distinctions and traditions. New opportunities are emerging, and the participants' footprint is expanding".

After the plenary the Forum was proceeded within two sections: "Import substitution as a jump-start to production development" moderated by Svetlana Ryabova, Associate Professor of the Department of State Economic Policy of the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and "Family business: international experience and development opportunities" moderated by Elena Dybova, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Speakers of section "Import substitution as a jump-start to production development" highlighted the most important integration tools of cooperation between Belarus and Russia, issues of import substitution in light industry and mechanical engineering, and made aware of the import substitution experience using the example of Russian enterprises.

Speakers of section "Family business: international experience and development opportunities" reviewed international experience of the family business legislative regulation, family institution downturn and transformation, secret of the family business success using examples of specific Belarusian and Russian enterprises, opening of an institute for state business setting-up support in Belarus and experience in business support in Nizhny Novgorod Region.

The exhibition "Made in Belarus" was held during the Forum. Light industry and food industry enterprises presented their products. Tasting sessions were held.

At the end of the event foreign participants visited Minsk enterprises, wh ere they got acquainted with the production capacity and cooperation opportunities.