The Xth International Economic Forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects." will be held in Vitebsk.

15-16 July 2022, Vitebsk region will host guests of the X International Economic Forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects.".

The anniversary forum will be held for the first time concurrently with the International Festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk". And for the first time, the venue for the forum will be a territory created for the purpose of attracting domestic and foreign capital, progressive technology and management experience – the territory of the Vitebsk FEZ. The forum venue is the "Zhurzhevsky" Business Centre, Vitebsk, 1st Zhurzhevskaya Street, 19 G.

During its existence, the forum has proven itself as an effective international-level tool for discussing and resolving issues of Vitebsk region development.

The aim of the anniversary forum will be to promote the adaptation of business entities to the processes and results of modern international realities based on the analysis of current opportunities and the search for advanced technologies, and the construction of new models of market interaction. The forum's theme is "Issues of import substitution in the implementation of innovative projects".

At the forum, participants will find a rich programme, which will include a plenary session, featuring the leadership of Vitebsk region, the leadership of partner regions, and top management in various fields of activity, and 8 breakout sessions, including discussions where speakers will present their solutions and share their experience. Within the framework of the forum, a "Subcontracting" exchange will be organised on the following topics: IT sector, industry, construction, metallurgy, food industry, transport and logistics, agriculture, consulting, and entrepreneurship support infrastructure.

Participants of the X forum in Vitebsk, both offline and online, will be invited to present their regions and companies, discuss problematic issues, and exchange views within panel discussions on "Import Substitution. Challenges. Solutions", "Investment and Innovation Factors and Tools for Export Development", "Cluster Model of Innovative Development: Problems and Prospects", "Free Economic Zones as a Basis for Increasing the Innovative and Investment Activity of Economic Entities", "Science. Technologies. Innovations", "The Role of the Education System in Innovative Developments".

For the first time, to enhance cooperation and bilateral collaboration between entrepreneurs from different countries, develop international contacts, and establish partnerships, including among women entrepreneurs, the forum organizers are establishing a round table for women entrepreneurs of the Vitebsk region and women entrepreneurs of the Russian Federation on the topic: "Informal Education for Women Entrepreneurs. Subcontracting through Communication and Cooperation."

Guests and participants of the forum will be acquainted with the exhibition expositions: "Clusters – Drivers of Regional Development," the exhibition of the region's districts "Vitebsk Export 2022"; Youth Innovative Business Projects "From Idea to Successful Business"; "Innovative Prospects for the Development of the Vitebsk Region in Industry, Agriculture, and Other Sectors"; "Innovative Developments and Innovative Products of Enterprises of the Vitebsk Region," and "Innovations in Education."

The Forum program provides for participation both via videoconferencing and in a virtual exhibition on an internet platform. Simultaneously, face-to-face events will be held: exhibitions, conferences, B2B negotiations, and a subcontracting exchange. The Forum's business program will be integrated into the concert and festive program of "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk."

You can follow the Forum news on the project website - www.iipvit.by, as well as on the YouTube channel "Business Dialogue".

Registration https://iipvit.by/registraciya/ for participation will be open until July 12, 2022.

For reference: In 2019, in Vitebsk, at the VIII Forum, with the defining theme "Import Substitution," 17 international cooperation agreements were signed. 22 foreign countries and 85 international delegations participated.

In 2021, the IX Forum was attended offline and online by over 30 foreign business delegations and representatives of the diplomatic corps from 13 countries. From the Russian Federation – 14 delegations of business and government representatives. 12 delegations from the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Latvia, Georgia, and Tajikistan worked at the Forum in face-to-face visits.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by