From 18-19 May 2023, in the Vitebsk Region, Vitebsk Provincial Administrative Committee organized the 11th International Economic Forum titled "Innovation-Investment-Prospect". The theme of the 2023 Forum is “Creative economy - betting on the future”. The plenary opening session was held on the afternoon of May 18, 2023, with the participation of more than 20 foreign delegations from 10 countries around the world. The Consuls, Ambassadors of diplomatic delegations of China, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Republic of Belarus, the diplomatic delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic Republic of Iran attended the conferences and events of the Forum. Delegations from three Chinese provinces, business leaders, and government officials from 12 regions of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the Republic of Turkey, and the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed their interest in establishing a closer mutually beneficial relationship at the Innovation-Investment-Prospect Forum.
Hai Phong City delegated the leader of Department of Foreign Affairs to attend the opening session on the afternoon of May 18, 2023, through the online form.
Presentations at the opening session of the Forum
In addition to thematic discussion sessions, at the Forum, more than a hundred outstanding enterprises and organizations of the Vitebsk region exhibited high-tech and innovative products, the import substitute product samples to find new partners for the implementation of joint investment projects. Vitebsk Investment Forum is a place where enterprises’ ideas and demands are shown to look for opportunities and support from the State. This is the place that annually witnesses the achievements of the Vitebsk region and identifies new prospects for growth, development, and partnerships.
A prominent feature of this exhibition is to display products by each sector in the transformation mechanism of regional economic systems. According to the sector principle, regional development has appropriate manners and high practical significance. Vitebsk Province hoped that the development of the Vitebsk region is a partnership among enterprises, organizations, and educational systems united in a scientific and educational center, associated with a partnership with government agencies to increase the competitiveness of enterprises, regions, and the national economy.
The regional key growth sectors in the exhibitions include: “Territory of industrial innovations”, “Light industry - a platform for cooperation opportunities”, “Innovation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, medicine”, “Energy: resources and technology”, and “Investment, cooperation. Projects: “Tourism potential of the Vitebsk region”, “Innovative equipment and machinery” and “Agro-industrial potential of the Vitebsk region”.
To expand new markets and establish new long-term partnerships among representatives of business communities, the Forum organized the exchange platform in the sectors of industry, construction, food industry, agriculture, transportation, logistics, IT - the field of consulting, and education. Uniquely, the events were organized on a multi-functional interactive platform to allow a combination of guest participation through in-person attendance at the Forum, online participation, virtual exhibitors, and in-person exhibitions.
Presentations at the opening session of the Forum
In 2017, Hai Phong City and Vitebsk Province signed a memorandum of cooperation for the period of 2017-2021 with the cooperation contents: organizing visits and exchanging delegations at all levels; economy and trade; credit and investment; culture, sports, tourism, education and training; and information exchange.
Since the signing of the memorandum of cooperation, the two sides have maintained information exchange as well as invited partner delegations to attend major events of the two localities.