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Cooperation within the EAEU: new challenges and ways to overcome trade barriers
The Russian company Zarubezh-Expo organised the IX EXPO-RUSSIA KAZAKHSTAN 2021 international industrial exhibition in full-time and online formats. Also, together with the Almaty Chamber of Trade and Investment, the VII Almaty Business Forum: "Mutual trade within the EAEU: New challenges and ways to overcome trade barriers".
These multinational events were held from June 23 to 25 at the Rixos Almaty Congress Center and gained special significance in the context of the participation of delegations of Central Asian countries to implement the "Treaty on the Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union" and the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The speakers emphasised the importance of such events for strengthening cooperation within the EAEU. The validity of the thesis was confirmed by the facts indicating that during the period after the previous 8th exhibition in Kazakhstan, the participants signed a large number of contracts and cooperation agreements.
The participants and guests of the current meeting were greatly interested in the plenary session of the Almaty Business Forum, during which the participants were presented with informative reports:
- "Development of trade and economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. The current state. Priorities. Prospects", delivered by Andrey Babko, Acting Trade Representative of Russia in Kazakhstan;
- "Ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market of the EAEU", speaker Nurbek Bauyrzhanuly, Head of the Integration Development Department of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan;
- "Russian-Kazakh economic cooperation in the context of the challenges of the "Great Reset" and the post-coronavirus "new normality". This report was made by Mikhail Smirnov, Chairman of the Russian-Kazakh Business Council, President of the Association of Innovative Enterprises in the Energy Sector, a full member of the Academy of Political Science of the Russian Federation;
- "Combining efforts, bringing the result closer: new points of growth in mutual trade", speaker – Governor of the Ryazan Region of Russia Nikolay Lyubimov.
- "Organization of a professional electronic platform for solving technological problems of industrial enterprises in a single-window mode", speaker – Askar Sembin, General Director of the Autonomous Cluster Fund Park of Innovative Technologies (Tech Garden);
- "B2B payments in traditional retail. Benefits and advantages for business, banks, payment systems and the State", speaker – Bolatbek Ospanov, Founder, Development Director of SmartSatu.
The meeting was moderated by Sultan Akimbekov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute of Asian Studies.
Chaired by Pavel Beklemishev, Member of the Board of the Union of Machine Builders of Kazakhstan, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken, held a round table on Risks and opportunities in technical regulation in the EAEU (certification, standardisation, metrology).
The issues of improving the logistics system of the Eurasian Economic Union were discussed by the participants of the round table on Transport and Logistics. The prospects of cooperation within the framework of the State Program for the integration of the infrastructure of the transport industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan were considered at the meeting. Russia and Kazakhstan are attractive transport arteries. The development of transit potential, being one of the key tasks within the framework of the EAEU, echoes the transport strategy of other countries, particularly China, which is also interested in recreating the Great Silk Road.
According to the participants and experts, one of the most important events of the EXPO-RUSSIA KAZAKHSTAN 2021 business program was the round table on cooperation and development of the oil and gas, energy, chemical and mining industries of Russia, Kazakhstan and the EAEU countries. The participants were greeted by the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Nogayev. During the discussions, the preparation of a new energy package of agreements within the framework of the EAEU was discussed. The Heads of the Union of Power Engineers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Energetika magazine, the Almaty Kazselenergo Research Institute, the National Fund Samruk-Kazyna, KEGOC, the Energy Department of the Almaty's local administration, Alatau ZharykCompaniyasy showed interest in the conversation with their Russian colleagues.
Hot topics were selected for discussion at the round table:
- Challenges of the global climate agenda and Russian-Kazakh cooperation in the fuel and energy sector: main problems, directions and prospects;
- Major projects in the energy, oil and gas, construction, petrochemical and mining sectors in Kazakhstan: opportunities for cooperation. Investments, technologies, equipment;
- Production of machinery and equipment for the oil and gas, chemical and mining industries: how to find your niche in globalisation: the experience of Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries;
- Hydrogen as a motor fuel.
Mikhail Smirnov, Chairman of the Russian part of the Russian-Kazakh Business Council, president of the EnergoInnovatsia Association of Innovative Enterprises in the Energy Sector, he is also the moderator of the round table, presented a report on Energy 4.0. Russian-Kazakh cooperation in the energy and fuel sector: main directions and prospects". Asima Bykova, a leading sales promotion specialist of Pipeline Coating and Technologies LLC, made a presentation on Minimizing the risks of product delivery to ensure the safety and reliability of pipelines. "The new plant for the production of catalysts of Gazpromneft: an innovative project to improve the efficiency of oil refining in Russia and Kazakhstan" – the topic of the report by Alexander Zaitsev, Deputy General Director of Gazpromneft-KS. Damir Garifullin from the Solar Turbines company spoke on the hot topic "Solar Turbines: modern solutions for working in the field of hydrogen energy". Ivan Tereshchenko from Altaikhimprom JSC presented the company's modern
solutions for oilfield services, oil transportation and mining companies.
In an interview with the national news agency Khabar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zarubezh-Expo JSC David Vartanov said: "The exhibition presents thematic sections from more than 150 enterprises in the usual format and online. Full-scale samples and stands are displayed in each section, demonstrating the latest achievements in the presented industries.
All Russian enterprises are interesting in their way. Our analysts have conducted a preliminary market review of the demand for business in Kazakhstan and present its results. The exhibition is becoming more diverse and more famous from year to year; 120-130 enterprises participate in it annually. This is a convenient and internationally recognised platform for the development of relations. Such exhibitions are held in friendly countries not only on the territory of the EAEU but also around the world: from South Africa to Austria. The diversity of economic relations between Kazakhstan and Russia allows us to say that this is one of the most exciting and promising exhibitions."
Exhibition Director Svetlana Zabelina says that according to past exhibitions, many enterprises are implementing joint projects and concluding new contracts. "When we start informing Russian export companies about the upcoming international exhibition abroad, Kazakhstan is of the greatest interest," the organiser of the exhibition stressed.
According to the participants, the main goals of the event were successfully achieved. The stands reflect innovative joint developments in mechanical engineering, energy, transport, telecommunications, agriculture, petrochemical and gas industry, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and education. During the three days of work, eight thematic events were held, including a press conference; the opening ceremony of the VII Almaty Business Forum and the IX exhibition EXPO-RUSSIA KAZAKHSTAN 2021; 12 events in the form of plenary sessions, round tables, practical seminars and presentations, at which 26 reports of representatives of business, executive and legislative authorities, science and associations were heard; the exchange of contacts in the B2B format, meetings and business negotiations of entrepreneurs of the EAEU countries and Central Asia.
Sixty-seven Russian companies and about sixty Kazakhstani companies took part in the events. Seventeen preliminary agreements were signed on the sidelines of the exhibition. For example, one of the most significant was the signing of a contract for the supply of cable products between Moskabelmet Group of Companies and InterEnergoCenter LLP. Representatives of the Berwel high-strength fasteners plant from the Ryazan region noted the positive results of the EXPO-RUSSIA KAZAKHSTAN 2021, during which a large number of helpful target contacts were established, the first applications for products were received. According to the company's representatives, the new concept of the stand was justified; a closed meeting was held with the management of the most modern metal structures plant in Kazakhstan with the prospect of establishing partnership relations.
The report of the Chelyabinsk Compressor Plant noted that the presentation of the screw installation was successfully organised, and the exhibition itself was held "at the highest level, creating a springboard for innovation and was remembered as an excellent platform for exchanging opinions and for serious reflection." More than 420 business meetings and negotiations were held in the B2B format.
In addition to the business community leaders, representatives of the diplomatic corps, executive and legislative authorities, science, culture and media of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and other countries took part in the exhibition. A beneficial and effective direction of the exhibition and forum was the B2B contact exchange, which provided meetings and business negotiations of entrepreneurs of the Customs Union and the project of the International Electronic Trading Platform TenderPro Teclot.com. In connection with these projects, Kazakhstani businessmen appreciated the presentation of the regions of the EAEU countries.
Following the "new reality", the EXPO-RUSSIA KAZAKHSTAN 2021 exhibition continued its work in an online format until July 31, 2021, on www.ExpoRF.ru
Organising Committee of the exhibition:
Zarubezh-Expo JSC
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