EAEU explores possibilities of interaction between national agencies for strategic planning

29.04.2022

EAEU explores possibilities of interaction between national agencies for strategic planning

The issues of special-purpose financing to develop catching-up economies of the Eurasian Economic Union regions and interaction between national agencies for strategic planning in this regard were discussed at the Working Group’s meeting held on April 29 at the headquarters of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Sergei Glazyev, EEC Minister in charge of Integration and Macroeconomics, reminded that the Commission, jointly with the Union States, had been working for three years to create the EAEU Development and Support Institution. During this period, various organizational forms of cooperation were considered, including options to form a new development fund or extend the mandate of the EDB and the EFSD, but most of the proposals were not unanimously approved by the sides.

As Sergei Glazyev stressed, the best practices of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) — the project office under the President of the Russian Federation — can be used to achieve the objective of catching up development of regions.

"We propose not to create a new institution, but to organize work on the basis of a consortium of national agencies. The Agency for Strategic Initiatives has developed a systemic methodology that can be applied within the EAEU to exchange the best practices in improving the investment climate, staff training and developing the social sphere", Sergei Glazyev stated.

He has added that nowadays national agencies for strategic planning were formed and function in four Union States: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

"The ASI is ready to act as a strategic partner within the proposed consortium for interaction between national agencies in the directions that are key ones to developing the EAEU and CIS countries today, to form a joint portfolio of projects and work on their implementation", noted Svetlana Chupsheva, ASI CEO.

Besides, she outlined the main directions of ASI's current work: elaborating medium and long-term social and economic concepts, creating a favorable investment climate in Russian regions, training of variously aged personnel with relevant competencies and supporting technological projects. Svetlana Chupsheva has noted that the ASI has experience in international cooperation on strategic planning in the Eurasian space, which can be used within the EAEU.

Following the discussion, it was decided to draft proposals on the form of possible cooperation between national agencies and discuss this issue within the Eurasian Economic Forum to be held on May 26 in Bishkek.

For reference

The Working Group on drafting proposals to create the EAEU Development and Support Institution was established by Disposition No. 86 of the Commission’s Board dated June 30, 2020 in accordance with Instruction No. 33 of the EEC Council dated December 19, 2019.

The issue of creating a development institution within the EAEU was initiated by the Kyrgyz Republic in 2018. It was conceptually reflected in the Declaration on Further Development of Integration Processes within the EAEU and the Strategic Directions for Developing the Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025, including provisions for implementing joint specific projects, laying the groundwork for equalizing economic development levels of the Member States and other measures.