Russian-Mongolian Economic Forum held at CCI of Russia

The event took place as part of a visit by a Mongolian delegation headed by Chairman of the Great State Hural of Mongolia Nям-Оsor N. Uchnal, at the invitation of State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin. The forum brought together representatives of government bodies, business circles, and expert communities from both countries and became an important platform for discussing current issues of bilateral cooperation.

CCI RF President Sergei Katyrin emphasized the steady growth of business activity between Russia and Mongolia and the importance of direct dialogue between business communities.

“Over the past two years, Russian regional chambers of commerce and industry have held more than 60 various business events in the Mongolian direction. Today, Mongolian business is actively operating in 22 regions of our country—from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka,” he noted.

The head of the CCI RF drew attention to the development of the multilateral format—the united trade and economic forum of the chambers of commerce and industry of Russia, Mongolia, and China, which in recent years has been held alternately in Ulaanbaatar, Baotou, and Irkutsk.

An important element of the practical agenda, Sergei Katyrin called the first Forum of Regions of Russia and Mongolia, held on December 1–2 last year in the Irkutsk Region. The CCI RF acted as the organizer of the contact exchange for entrepreneurs from the two countries and a joint expanded meeting of national business councils for cooperation.

“Today, a plan has been approved for the construction of a new branch of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which will enrich our ties and allow the development of many related industries already within the framework of three states—Russia, China, and Mongolia,” said Sergei Katyrin.

Among the factors that can give additional impetus to cooperation, he named the upcoming liberalization of trade between the Eurasian Economic Union states and Mongolia, as well as the development of exhibition interaction.

The head of the Chamber invited Mongolian business circles to participate in key international events, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexei Gordeev noted that the day before, the second meeting of the interparliamentary commission took place with the participation of 18 deputies of the Great State Hural and representatives of the Mongolian government.

“Our task is to ensure that the interim free trade agreement between Mongolia and the EAEU comes into effect, and we see more Mongolian goods on the Russian market. Today, there is a noticeable imbalance in mutual trade, and it needs to be leveled out jointly,” he emphasized.

Vice-President of the CCI RF Vladimir Padalko acted as the moderator of the business program.

The discussion was attended by Member of the Board (Minister) for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey Slepnev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Mongolia Sodnomdarjaagiin Davaasuren, Director of the Department for Bilateral Cooperation Development of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Pavel Kalmychek, and Secretary General of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mongolia Bulgani Saruul.

Separate blocks were devoted to industry cooperation in the agri-industrial complex, wool and cashmere industry, light industry, and export interaction.

On the sidelines of the forum, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Roscongress Foundation and the Mongolian Economic Forum aimed at developing business and humanitarian-economic dialogue.