The VI International Economic Forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects" begins its two-day work in Vitebsk today, organisers informed a BELTA correspondent.
The VI International Economic Forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects" begins its two-day work in Vitebsk today, organisers informed a BELTA correspondent.
The forum maintains its usual format as a platform where developed and developing economies, government and business, heads of major companies and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses meet. Exhibitions of cities and district centres of the Vitebsk region will be organised on the premises of the regional Sports Palace. Guests will also be familiarised with the stands of international specialised exhibitions: "Innovative Developments and Innovative Products", "Energy Saving and Ecology", "Construction Industry. Innovations in Construction", "Integrated Agro-industrial Structures" and "Light Industry-2017". More than 100 exhibitors from all regions of Belarus are expected in total. A fair of regional goods and services will be held to support local producers of goods and services, and to assist in addressing issues of product promotion and sales.
The key event of the business programme will be the introduction of potential partners to promising scientific and technical developments and innovative development of the region, as well as the opportunities of the FEZ "Vitebsk". Special attention will be paid to the development and implementation of energy-saving and energy-efficient technologies in the Vitebsk region, which holds leading positions in this area in Belarus. Thus, the international scientific and practical conference "Energy Saving-2017" will be part of the programme. In addition, this year, a major environmental event is being held on the same platform as the economic forum - the XIV Republican Environmental Forum with a specialised exhibition, thematic sections, seminars and campaigns.
Interest in the forum from foreign countries is growing. This year, participation of business and government representatives from 13 countries is expected: Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, France, Serbia, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Germany, and the PRC. The signing of about 20 cooperation and partnership agreements is planned. A dedicated program has been proposed for the delegation from the Chinese province of Heilongjiang at their request. In addition to visiting the forum venues, it includes a meeting with the regional leadership to discuss interregional cooperation issues and a visit to the "Vitba" confectionery factory for negotiations on the supply of products from the meat and dairy and food industries to the PRC.
The forum is organized by the Vitebsk Regional and City Executive Committees, the Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Regional Department for Supervision of Rational Use of Fuel and Energy Resources, the Vitebsk Regional Marketing Center, and the Administration of the FEZ "Vitebsk".