The X International Economic Forum is taking place in Orsha.

The jubilee 10th International Economic Forum, which has become one of the calling cards of Orsha region, started on April 27 in the city on the Dnieper.

Its grand opening, with the participation of the Deputy Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina, the leadership of the Orsha District Executive Committee and the Vitebsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, heads of the city of Smolensk, the Tver City Duma, the municipal entity "Vyazemsky District", and other distinguished guests, took place on the territory of the Ice Arena. The Republican Universal Exhibition-Fair "Orsha Traditions" was also held here.

The International Economic Forum is a unique platform for strengthening and developing interregional ties with friendly countries. Anzhelika Nikitina stated this during the grand opening ceremony.

– Thanks to such events, great prospects for cooperation at the regional level are opening up before us. Interaction between the regions of Belarus and the Russian Federation is very important both for Orsha region and for the Vitebsk region as a whole. Today, more than ever, we must unite and solve pressing issues together, – noted the Deputy Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

The Chairman of the Orsha District Executive Committee Igor Isachenko said that further strengthening of cooperation between the regions will give an additional impetus to establishing economic, social, cultural, and tourist ties.

– We are proud of and respect the friendship with our partner regions, we value international cooperation and strive to develop it, – said the head of the district. – Today, we will certainly find new points of contact in this difficult time of economic sanctions.

In turn, the General Director of the Vitebsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Natalia Vorobyova emphasized that during this period, this economic forum has become an authoritative international platform for regional communication, discussion of development prospects, and cooperation opportunities, making a huge contribution to the diplomacy of regional twinning.

– For the 10th time, together with the leadership of the Orsha District Executive Committee, we are organizing and opening this significant event, – she said. – The Orsha region is a priority in Belarus. Undoubtedly, it attracts attention and enjoys recognition.

Import substitution, innovation, investment, and the export potential of regions are the focus of the forum. Around 60 leading domestic companies, as well as enterprises and business communities from Russia, met at the negotiation platform and the "Orshanskiye Traditsii" fair.

The theme of the first day of the forum was international cooperation: interaction between partner cities.

In addition to the state and prospects in the economy, cooperation in the fields of healthcare, education, sports and culture, and social protection was discussed.

A significant event of the first day of the International Economic Forum was the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Twin City Relations between Orsha District of Vitebsk Region of the Republic of Belarus and the city of Tver of the Russian Federation. It was signed by Igor Isachenko and the Head of the Tver City Duma, Evgeny Pichuev.

Together with VSU named after P.M. Masherov, VSTU, Vitebsk Medical University, BSUAA, Cleverland company, educational institutions, colleges and lyceums of Orsha District, a job fair was organised.

The second day of the forum, April 28, will be dedicated to cooperation with the People's Republic of China. A Memorandum on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the pilot zone of regional trade and economic cooperation "China-SCO" and the FEZ "Vitebsk" is planned to be signed.

On April 29, participants of the event will discuss the topic "Financing, opportunities and challenges of developing regional entrepreneurship support infrastructure". Experts will talk about tools for supporting small businesses, the work of agricultural clusters, the use of digital tools, etc. Diplomas will be awarded to participants during the closing ceremony.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by