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The International Forum “New Conditions and Opportunities for Economic Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian Regions” within the Russian Business Week was held on March 23, 2016. The first part of the event was devoted to the regional and integration projects implemented in these regions, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and other free trade zones, Silk Road Economic Belt, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and coordinating development of EAEU and Silk Road Economic Belt. Aleksey Maslov, Head of the School of Asian Studies of the National Research University Higher School of Economics moderated the discussion.
Opening the Forum Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) expressed condolences to the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Brussels. In his speech Alexander Shokhin emphasized that a growing number of regional agreements which is especially evident in the Asia-Pacific leads to fragmentation of the international trade system. According to him, these agreements should be consistent with the WTO rules and transparent. Alexander Shokhin noted creation of the EAEU – Vietnam free trade zone and on-going negotiations between the EAEU and other Asia-Pacific countries and called for launching a study of possible outcomes of Russia`s accession to the RCEP being developed by the ASEAN countries and their trade partners. RSPP President also told about complication of doing-business conditions as a result of inconformity and doubling of regulations due to a growing number of international investment agreements. Taking into account the active position of China, which chairs the G20 this year, on elaborating a set of rules for global investments Alexander Shokhin called for Russia`s engagement into this work and in forming common understanding of the means of implementation of such international investment documents as OECD Policy Framework for Investment. In his speech Mr. Shokhin also emphasized a need to elaborate clear and transparent financing rules in newly established international institutions as the New Development Bank of BRICS and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He urged the business to prepare projects to be financed by these institutions.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Renova Group, President of Skolkovo Foundation and Chairman of the RSPP Committee on International Cooperation Viktor Vekselberg shared with the participants the Russian-Chinese Chamber for Machinery, Technologies and Innovations and Skolkovo Foundation experience of cooperation with the Asian investors. The Chamber proposes to Russian and Chinese entrepreneurs an effective mechanism for finding partners and strengthening cooperation. A large number of Chinese high-tech companies plan to become residents of the Skolkovo Foundation soon.
The presentation by Chairman of PAO Severstal and Chairman of the RSPP Committee on Integration, Trade and Customs Policy and WTO Alexey Mordashov was devoted to the trade integration and foreign trade development. He called for analysis and consideration of possible outcomes of the TPP Agreement for Russian business and effective implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement ratified by Russia, in particular by establishing a special national committee and implementing more actively custom procedures and legal regimes to increase Russia`s investment attractiveness.
Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Veronika Nikishina noted an emergence of mega regional trade agreements as one of the trends of world economy. According to Veronika Nikishina, the nature of these agreements is changing. For example, the TPP implementation will not have a significant outcome in terms of tariff reduction because 12 signing countries have had already concluded 42 trade agreements. However the TPP introduces breakthrough regulation standards, in particular in technical standards harmonization, intellectual property rights and innovative technologies. Consequently the multilateral trade system becomes multilevel and multispeed for members and non-members of mega regional blocks.
CEO of the Russian Export Centre Peter Fradkov emphasized a need to use export activities as one of indicators of companies` competitiveness. He noted that a national export strategy should be based on the matching of sectors and importer countries, systemic export support and the focus on promising markets.
EY Country Managing Partner for Russia Alexander Ivlev focused on a global transformation of economic blocks and partnerships which in particular appears in transition of investor role from advanced to emerging economies.
Director of the Department of Asia, Africa and Latin America of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development Evgeny Popov told the participants about activities of the Ministry in developing cooperation with the Asia-Pacific countries, including through intergovernmental commissions and business missions as well as support to the projects implemented by the Russian companies in this region.
Chairman and Managing Partner of KPMG in Russia and the CIS Oleg Goshchansky moderated the second part of the Forum, which was devoted to the experience of the Russian and international companies operating in the Asia-Pacific markets.
Director of the International Economic Activity, Attracting Private Investment and Export Support Department of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East Rustam Makarov presented the activities aimed at creating favorable conditions for investors in the Far East of Russia. He pointed out that Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 are the examples of successful implementation of the projects with participation of the Asia-Pacific companies.
Senior Vice-President of JSC "Russian Railways" Sergey Maltsev presented the company’s activities and plans for cooperation with the Asia-Pacific partners in transport infrastructure development and perspective projects in this sphere.
Director for Business Development of ABBYY 3A Oleg Sazhin shared with the participants the company`s experience on working in the Asia-Pacific countries in IT sector. He emphasized that the factors of success are high quality of the products, availability of local partners and attention to local market, in particular localization with a due regard to national languages.
Clifford Chance Partner Arthur Ili ev introduced the examples of differences in approaches of Russian and Chinese businessmen in negotiations and agreements conclusion.
General Director of FleishmanHillard Vanguard Elena Fadeeva presented the results of analysis of Russian, American, European and international companies` opinions about barriers and success factors of entry into the Asia-Pacific markets, demonstrating significant differences in perception of these issues by the businesses from these countries.
The discussion outcomes will be presented in the final document of the Forum and accounted in further work of RSPP.