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EAEU new integration quality is one of key topics of anniversary St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
The discussion attendees focused on the ways of creating trans-Eurasian corporations, role of the Eurasian integration in achieving social progress and the image of the Eurasian Economic Union in the new system of global economic relations.
Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the EEC Board, stressed that the EAEU had genuinely fulfilled, and the figures proved it.
"Last year, our countries’ economies grew by 4.6%. Mutual trade and cooperative deliveries which have increased by almost a third were developing at a furious pace", Mikhail Myasnikovich said.
According to him, industrial growth is an important trend of the Union’s further development.
"We should create conditions for integration projects inuring to the benefit of the business community. At the moment, we feel that the business circles lack interest in 170 projects selected for the Industrialization Map", the Head of the EEC Board noted. “The motivational mechanisms we develop will help remedy the situation".
When it comes to the EAEU international vector, Mikhail Myasnikovich has reminded that, despite the pandemic and sanctions pressure, two Observer States - Uzbekistan and Cuba - joined the Union over the past two years. Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Arab Emirates. At the end of May, it was decided to start negotiations on a free trade area with Indonesia. Similar negotiations are already in progress with Egypt, India, and Iran.
Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Member of the EEC Council, has noted that new conditions occur in the Greater Eurasian Partnership space for building and strengthening economic, trade, transport, and financial ties.
"All the countries in this space inform on the need to build a new financial system. The old running system carries little credibility now, and some endogenous system should be created. In principle, we work on this subject", Alexei Overchuk said.
According to him, the EAEU performs well in mutual settlements in national currencies - about 75%. But all the same, they invisibly use current reserve currency. Nowadays we work on building direct pairs between national currencies.
Besides, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation noted the need to add a cultural and humanitarian component to the EAEU agenda.
Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic - Head of the Presidential Executive Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, expressed confidence that a full-fledged and prompt implementation of the Strategic Directions for Developing the Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025 would contribute to developing the integration and convergence of the Member States’ economic levels which would also enable enhancing the Union’s stature in the international arena.
"Today we can no longer limit ourselves to the issues of economic interaction. The social agenda having a direct impact on all our countries’ economy should be expanded", Akylbek Japarov stressed.
According to Nikita Anisimov, Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, particular attention should be given to social and humanitarian and scientific and technical cooperation in the EAEU.
"In education, we work on creating network educational formats, comparing educational programs, confirming qualifications of specialists and recognizing scientific degrees and ranks", Nikita Anisimov reminded.
According to him, it is of the utmost importance to harmonize legislation in the field of education and science. The Agreement on establishing the Network University signed in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Forum should establish a clear and principled framework for this cooperation. Along with that, it should be coupled with Network Universities of the BRICS, the SCO and the ASEAN countries.
"Against the background of the intensified discussion about the Bologna Process, we should think about creating our own Eurasian education system. We should offer such a system in the EAEU space", Anisimov is confident.
Dmitry Pumpyansky, Vice President and Member of the Bureau of the Board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, underscored the importance of unified technical regulation in the EAEU space, which underlies trade development.
"The experience of business community shows that the success of economic integration depends largely on the convergence in the field of technical regulation, accreditation system, etc.”, Dmitry Pumpyansky said. "A lot has been done in the EAEU. In terms of the implementation speed, the project of the unified system of technical regulation has no analogues in international practice. 51 technical regulations were adopted in the last ten years. The entire system of technical regulation has shifted from countries to the EAEU level. Only nine regulations still have to be adopted what, we hope, to be done over the next one or two years".
Robert Urazov, Director General of ANO "Agency for Professional Skills Development (Worldskills Russia)" has noted that the markets of the EAEU and Eurasia are interconnected. The efficiency of these markets can be improved by strengthening standardization. On the one part, we should formulate requirements to employees, guidelines for the company and education system, and on the other part, we should involve companies manufacturing production goods.
"This is a vast opportunity for those companies that promote their technologies and workplaces. We do not have but can develop a system that would enable exchanging technologies and prototypes of workplaces in an economically competitive manner. The alliance we are talking about now should be filled not only with people who can manufacture, but also with those who can launch manufacturing. It should be done in a concerted effort", the speaker summed up.
Dmitry Volvach, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, expressed a belief that current conditions of external pressure made us assess the role and place of integration in developing the EAEU countries in a different way. It is joint development which is the only right way.
Sergei Glazyev, EEC Minister in charge of Integration and Macroeconomics, has noted that the Eurasian Economic Space operates on a universal legal basis. The connectivity of the Union’s socio-economic space should be enhanced at a new stage.
"The Eurasian Network University is a good idea that should be supported by governments. Creating the Agency for the EAEU Strategic Initiatives is another idea to increase connectivity. Forming a unified scientific-technical space is the most important priority. Connectivity is developing cooperation as well; a new financial and economic space should be formed in this regard", the EEC Minister stressed.
The moderator was Tatiana Remezova, TV Presenter of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK).
