Moscow Economic Forum 2014: "For Promotion of Production!"

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, March 04, 2014 (Press-News.org) Understanding the limitation of raw material resources, the leading countries of the world invest huge means into the development of non-oil and gas branches of economy. At the same time, occupying the 5th place in the world judging by its gross domestic product level, Russia is on the leading positions in the world in oil and gas production with a rather low indicator of development in other spheres of economy. For this reason, the intellectual elite of Russia is now actively discussing opportunities, plans, and prospects of non-oil production developments in the country. In particular, this subject has become the slogan of the Moscow Economic Forum-2014 in which big Russian and foreign experts have participated.

Why was such topic chosen?
Currently Russia is living by means of energy resources; it is selling oil and gas, not thinking about efficiency of their extraction. Notably, the Russian people pay for energy resources timesfold in comparison with their counterparts in other countries, rich in oil. This leads not only to impoverishment of the population but also to a complete stagnation of production of homeland products, including the ones of machine-building. Business and social community believes that Russia has no future without production development . The Forum's experts will offer specific programs for the development of non-oil and gas sector of the economy.

What is the Moscow Economic Forum?
The Moscow Economic Forum is an international expert platform for the development of strategic solutions and anti-crisis programs, aimed at changing the course of economic policy in Russia. In 2013, the MEF was held for the first time and became one of the largest economic events of the year.

Who organized the Forum?
The idea of organizing the forum brought together representatives of the Russian industry, science and education. Co-Chairmen of the International Committee of the Forum are Viktor Sadovnichy, Academician of the Russian Academy of Science, Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University; Ruslan Grinberg, Director of the Institute of Economy of the Russian Academy of Science, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Science; Konstantin Babkin, President of the Industrial Union "New Association", President of the Russian Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery "Rosagromash."

Does Russia have industrial potential?
Konstantin Babkin, the President of the Industrial Union "New Association"and Co-Chairman of the MEF: "Our country has great potential for the development of non-oil and gas advanced technology production. Russia is rich in resources, it has an industrious and educated population, it has a huge market and neighbors, who are willing to buy Russian products. We have great history in the area of production. I am sure that there are all opportunities now to become once again one of the forefront nations."

Only the real sector may boost the development of our country. In the modern world if the nation does not do, does not create - it loses its future. The development of national production creates demand for science, education, pushes economy forward, and makes living and work in the country comfortable with understandable and promising future. This is the exact reason why the Forum sets itself a task of development of new specific programs to advance industry and agriculture in the country.

Who supported the Forum?
This year famous Russian and foreign scientists, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, politicians, public figures, and famous practicing economists supported the Forum.

What questions will participants of the Forum discuss?
- New industrial policy: What will become the driver of re-industrialization in Russia?
- Competitive capability of general economic conditions: how to draw production to Russia?
- What large-scale investment projects does Russia really need?
- What economic, social and institutional reforms will improve the demographical situation in Russia? Growth of national production.
- How to make industrial specialties prestigious again?
- How to make trade-union movements, unions, associations more active?

How did the Forum go through in 2013?
The first Moscow Economic Forum was held in March of 2013. The platform of the MEF-2013 brought together 1,500 participants and experts from more than 30 countries of the world. Two days of the Forum's program featured 118.5 hours of fruitful work, 42 business events, including 4 plenary discussion panels, 8 plenary conferences, and 30 round tables and initiative seminars.