Expert Eastern Economic Forum (WEF)

The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is one of the largest international business events in Russia, which is held annually in Vladivostok. This is a platform for dialogue between business, politicians and experts, where investments, the development of the Far East, Russia’s cooperation with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region (APR) are discussed.

The forum attracts the attention of not only Russian companies, but also dozens of countries interested in trade, logistics, raw materials and technological projects in Russia and the Asia-Pacific region.

History and objectives of the WEF

• The forum was first held in 2015. at the initiative of the President of Russia.
• The main idea was that attract investment in the Far East Show them the opportunities for international business.
• Vladivostok was chosen not by chance: the city is located near the largest economies of Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam.

The main objectives of the WEF are:

1. Development of international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
2. Attracting investments in projects of the Far East.
3. Presentation of new measures of state support of business.
4. Promotion of infrastructure, logistics and industrial projects.

Where the forum is

The Forum is held annually in Vladivostok, on the island of Russian on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU).
The campus becomes the center of negotiations, exhibitions and round tables, as well as a symbol of the development of the Far East as a territory of international cooperation.

Structure and format of the forum

The WEF includes several key formats:

1. Plenary meetings - main discussions with the participation of the President of Russia and leaders of the Asia-Pacific countries.
2. Business programme:
   • Thematic sessions (energy, logistics, digital economy, tourism);
   • round tables for business;
   • presentation of new investment projects.
3. The Far East Exhibition demonstration of achievements of regions, investment sites, production clusters.
4. Contact exchange B2B and B2G meetings where agreements are concluded.
5. Cultural and sports programme Concerts, business dinners, sports tournaments that help form informal connections.

Forum participants

The forum is attended annually by:

• representatives of the authorities (presidents, ministers, governors);
• large Russian and international companies;
• banks, investment funds;
• representatives of science and education;
• Media and think tanks.

According to the organizers, in different years the forum gathered 8-10 thousand participants from more than 50 countries.
Among the most active participating countries:

• China
• Japan
• Republic
• India
• Vietnam
• Mongolia
• ASEAN and the Middle East.

Main topics of the forum

Each year, the WEF program is formed around the current tasks:

1. Investment and development of the Far East
   • Creation of priority development territories (TOP);
   • preferences for investors;
   • Development of port and transport infrastructure.
2. Energy
   • gas, oil and coal supplies to Asia;
   • RES projects (wind, hydropower).
3. Transport and logistics
   • development of the Northern Sea Route;
   • railway routes Russia-China-Europe;
   • modernization of the ports of the Far East.
4. Digitalization and technology
   • IT projects and start-ups;
   • electronic commerce;
   • Joint innovation clusters with Asian partners.
5. Agro-industrial complex
   • supply of grain, soybeans, fish and seafood;
   • development of agricultural processing;
   • food exports to the Asia-Pacific region.
6. Tourism and humanitarian cooperation
   • development of border and medical tourism;
   • educational exchanges;
   • cultural projects.

Practical results of the WEF

The forum is not just a platform for discussions, but also a place for real deals.
Over the years of the WEF,

• signed 3,000 agreements;
• The total amount of declared investments exceeded trillions;
• Dozens of new enterprises, transport and energy projects have been created.

Examples:

• contracts on gas projects of Gazprom and Rosneft with China and India;
• agreements on the development of the ports of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Soviet Harbor;
• investment in the extraction of gold, coal, wood, fish.

The importance of the forum

1. For Russia.
   • attracting investment in a strategically important region;
   • development of infrastructure of the Far East;
   • integration into the Asia-Pacific economy.
2. For international partners
   • access to Russian resources (energy, food, transport routes);
   • participation in infrastructure projects;
   • Diversification of trade in the face of global competition.
3. For business.
   • a unique platform for contacts and negotiations;
   • the opportunity to directly discuss projects with the authorities;
   • Finding partners in the Asia-Pacific.

The Eastern Economic Forum is playgroundIt helps Russia to develop the Far East, and business and Asia-Pacific countries to find new growth points.

The forum has already become a tradition: every September Vladivostok becomes the center of the international economy.