Raul Khadzhimba: fruitful work within the framework of the forum will be aimed at joint search for new ideas and agreements

The VIII Abkhaz-Russian Business Forum opened in Sukhum.

Sukhum. 27 October. Apsnypress. The VIII Abkhaz-Russian business forum opened in Sukhum. Before the start of the events, Prime Minister Beslan Bartsits, Deputy Prime Minister Beslan Eshba, Minister of Economy Adgur Ardzinba, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Pristankov, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus Olga Rukhullayeva, forum participants honored the memory of the deceased and laid flowers at the Glory Park.  

 More than 400 participants registered at the forum. Representatives of state and business structures, interested departments, public organizations, the scientific and business community, experts of the two countries gathered to discuss topical issues of the Abkhaz-Russian business cooperation.
 
 At the opening of the VIII Abkhaz-Russian Business Forum, President of the Republic of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba welcomed its participants.

 As the head of state noted, representatives of the authorities, public organizations, business community and the scientific community of Abkhazia and Russia gathered at the forum. The composition of the forum participants is no less representative than in previous years and this, of course, is a testament to its significance.

 Raul Khadzhimba stressed: "We are very grateful and sincerely appreciate your interest in Abkhazia. Our country is open for a constructive dialogue aimed at partnership relations. We are ready for joint work and implementation of mutually beneficial projects, development of measures and cooperation in overcoming the limitations and obstacles for a more profound integration of economic relations between Abkhazia and Russia. Only together, uniting efforts, we will be able to ensure a steady growth of the existing trade and economic relations, ensure an increase in mutual investment activity, master new promising areas of cooperation and cope with the challenges of the modern world. The work of today's forum is directed to discussion of these and other topical issues, it is annually considered one of the most important events in the business life of Abkhazia. "
   
 The President noted that the forum grounds provide a good opportunity for communication between the political and economic elites of Abkhazia and Russia, and most importantly, there are platforms for communication of economic structures.
  
 Raul Khadzhimba drew attention to the fact that over the years, since the first business forum in 2009, great work has been done to strengthen bilateral relations: "A broad contractual base has been created. Along with the Basic Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership, between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation there have been signed 130 interstate agreements covering practically all spheres of interaction and cooperation. During this period, the trade turnover between Abkhazia and Russia increased by more than 3.5 times, the export of Abkhaz goods to the Russian market by 3.2 times, and the share of the Russian Federation in the foreign trade turnover of the Republic of Abkhazia exceeds 70%.

 We are striving to export our products to the Russian market and for this purpose greenhouse complexes, processing enterprises are being actively built today, and all conditions for exporters of Abkhazia to promote Abkhazian products are created by mutual efforts.

 It is encouraging to note that the trade line of goods supplied from our country is expanding. We gradually and consistently increase the added value of exported goods. Representatives of the agro-industrial complex of Abkhazia receive high awards at international exhibitions and venues.
   
 In the sphere of tourism, our country has been among the most popular leisure destinations for Russians for several years now. Beach and cultural-cognitive forms of tourism are actively developing in Abkhazia and the oldest monuments of early Christianity serve as a solid basis for the development of religious tourism.
 Unconditional market leaders, practically in all sectors of the economy of Abkhazia, are companies with the participation of Russian investments. The leading Russian companies such as Megafon, Rosneft and others have been successful for many years now 

 Last year, a number of investment agreements were signed on the same site, and some of them have already been implemented in full, others are at the final stage. "

 President stressed that Abkhazia is open and interested in Russian investments, therefore, in this direction is being carried out consistent work to create a favorable business environment and business activity growth: "The necessary regulatory framework and institutions for supporting investment activities are being created, which are a key factor in economic growth. An agreement on promotion and mutual protection of investments exists between Abkhazia and Russia. In 2014, we adopted a new Law "On Investment Activities", which provides targeted benefits and incentive measures for investors. The State Investment Agency was created under the Ministry of Economy of Abkhazia, whose task is to support and facilitate foreign investors.

 Despite the results, we still have a lot of work to do in this direction. Given the global economic trends, the competition for investment is increasing every year, and in the world of the future inefficient and uncompetitive countries or regions will have to replenish the number of outsiders. We understand this very well.

 In this issue, we attach great importance to borrowing Russian best practices and best practices from the most successful regions of Russia. It is for this reason that from this year we started the direction of the civil servants of Abkhazia for an internship in the most progressively developing regions of the Russian Federation. Here, I want to say a few thanks for the fact that our Russian colleagues support us in this matter and share their experience with pleasure. "

 Raul Khadzhimba reported on the plans of the Investment Program: "An invaluable contribution to development is the financial assistance provided by the Russian Federation in order to promote the socio-economic development of the Republic of Abkhazia. Thus, under the updated Investment Program for 2017-2019, this year financial assistance is more than 2.5 billion rubles, and in total, including 2019, this amount will be more than 5.8 billion rubles. Due to these funds, social infrastructure facilities are being built and restored. But cooperation between our countries can not and should not be limited to gratuitous financial injections. Our task is to reach a self-sufficient level of development that allows us to improve the quality of life of our citizens qualitatively, and we have all the prerequisites for this. "
   
 The head of state described the most topical issues of the Abkhaz-Russian relations: "These are issues of further promotion of our trade and economic relations, the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the context of bilateral relations, cooperation in tourism, and more effective cooperation of the Republic of Abkhazia with the regions of the Russian Federation and much more. "
   
 "We live with you in a very difficult, but interesting time. The world is changing rapidly and the rate of change is increasing every day. There are many new ideas and discoveries that in a moment span the entire planet, projects are being realized, the existence of which could not have been believed several years ago. And to meet these challenges of the time, we need wisdom and responsibility, joint search for non-standard solutions, new formats of interaction between our states, as well as all structures designed to assist the business community. It is no accident that representatives of chambers of commerce and industry and other business associations traditionally take part in the work of our forums.
   
 It is important that our forums are always constructive and effective. At all times, the future has been determined by persistent, purposeful and effective people. Those who are ready, without looking at difficulties and obstacles, transform their bold plans, intellectual abilities into new successful projects.
  
 I am firmly convinced that fruitful and interesting work within the framework of today's forum will be aimed at joint search for new ideas and agreements that will form the basis for strengthening and expanding allied Abkhaz-Russian relations, " - Raul Khadzhimba summarized.