V.Salamatov Participated at the Gaidar Forum 2016

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - A panel discussion titled “Russia and Europe: Economic Prospects,” organized by the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) committees for economic integration of the SCO and the CIS countries and for promotion of foreign economic activity, together with World Trade Center Moscow was held on January 13 at the first day of the Gaidar Forum 2016.

The discussion was moderated by Vladimir Salamatov, WTC Moscow CEO, Chairman of the RF CCI committee for economic integration of the SCO and the CIS countries, Head of Chair in International Commerce at RANEPA, and Andrey Spartak, director of JSC All-Russian Market Research Institute, chairman of RF CCI committee for promotion of foreign economic activity.

The main topics of discussion were the issues of relationship between the economies of Russia and Europe, common interests and conflicts, the impact of the formation of new global integrations in the East and West on the economic cooperation between the regions, the issues of energy security, as well as the conditions and prospects for restarting Russian-European relations.

In the first part of the event, data on trade between Russia and the European Union were presented. “There has been a decline in the EU’s turnover not only with Russia but with the entire world as well. In fact, the trends in relationship between the EU and Russia and between the EU and other countries are the same. Moreover, we should not forget that our close contacts with the European Union as a major partner have been kept, including in investment and education,” said Vladimir Salamatov.

The importance of partnership between Russia and the EU was emphasized by other panelists as well. Vygaudas Ušackas, Head of the Delegation of the EU to the Russian Federation, acknowledged that “for a number of years, we have shared a common ambitious goal – to create a common economic space ... despite sanctions and antisanctions the European Union remains the largest trading partner of the Russian Federation: the turnover between Russia and the EU accounted for 47% of the last year’s trade. We still have the very close relationship in communications and energy sectors. We must create a new reality rather than look for new common goals. Some of the remaining differences should be resolved to create the very same mutual trust. It is necessary to find ways to combine Russia’s import substitution policy and create a common economic space together with Russia,” said Ušackas.

“Life offers solutions to operate effectively and build relationships between companies and economic operators, including amid the existing and ongoing sanctions. There is a great mutual interest of our companies, our business”, – concluded Russia’s Deputy Economic Development Minister Alexey Likhachev.

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