WORKING LUNCH WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PREPARATION OF THE XII SESSION OF RABC AND THE IV INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION "ARABIA - EXPO"

On December 17, a working lunch was held with the heads of diplomatic missions of 20 Arab countries, the Ambassador of the Arab League in Moscow in preparation for the XII Session of the Russian-Arab Business Council and the IV International Exhibition Arabia-EXPO, which will be held from 8 to 10 April 2019. in Moscow, in the Central Exhibition Hall "Manege".

The event was led by two Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee - M. Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the President of Russia for the Middle East and V. P. Evtushenkov, Chairman of the Russian-Arab Business Council, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Joint-Stock Financial Corporation «Sistema».

The event was attended by I.O. Shchegolev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District, A.A.Matovnikov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District, I.Y. Babushkin, Deputy Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District, A. Fursin, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development of Moscow, I. N. Zhuk, Senior Vice-President of the Russian Export Center, V.I. Padalko Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation.

The main topic of the meeting was the discussion of the preparation of the upcoming XII Session of the Russian-Arab Business Council and the IV International Exhibition Arabia-EXPO, which are provided for by the Plan of multidisciplinary actions to implement the principles, goals and objectives of the Russian-Arab Forum of Cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and the Arab League.

Mikhail Bogdanov emphasized that Russia and the countries of the Arab world are traditionally connected by friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stressed the importance of the upcoming events to strengthen and improve trade and economic relations between Russia and the Arab countries and assured that the Russian Foreign Ministry would make every effort to ensure that the XII Session of the RABC and the 4th Arabia-EXPO International Exhibition successfully took place in April, 2019.

Abdelkader Lesheheb, Doyen of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Russian Federation, noted the important role of the RABC in deepening interaction between Russia and the Arab world, and noted that the upcoming XII Session of the RABC and the 4th Arabia-EXPO International Exhibition are very important events for the Russian-Arab agenda and expressed the hope that this meeting in preparation for the upcoming Events will not be the last. The Ambassador urged to take seriously the preparations, and on his part he would make every effort to ensure that the countries of the Arab world were represented in the most representative format, and expressed the hope that the Russian side would also be represented in high status.

I.O. Shchegolev, Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District thanked the Co-Chairs for the invitation to take part in the meeting, stressed the importance of the upcoming Sessions and Exhibitions, expressed readiness to provide full support in preparing for the upcoming Events and confirmed that all regions CFD.

A.A.Matovnikov, Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District, thanked the Co-Chairs for the invitation and noted that the North Caucasus Federal District traditionally has much in common with the Arab world, and also confirmed that within the framework of the Arabia-EXPO 2019 ”there will be a joint stand on which all the regions included in the subject will be represented. Also, Mr. Matovnikov invited all the Heads of diplomatic missions to visit the North Caucasus, as well as take part in the North Caucasus Economic Forum, scheduled for autumn 2019.

A.A. Fursin, The head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development of Moscow thanked the Organizing Committee and noted that the Moscow Government and the capital business are taking an active part in the exhibitions held in the Arab world. We participate in industry-specific healthcare and IT events in sectors where Moscow companies have significant export potential. I note that there are several promising areas of cooperation between Moscow companies and Arab partners. Countries such as Algeria and Egypt are among the key areas of capital exports. And in our common interests to strengthen trade relations with the countries of the Arab world. In addition, the capital of Russia is a good platform for investment, and we plan to demonstrate this at the Arabia-EXPO exhibition in Moscow.

I.Zhuk, Senior Vice-President of JSC “Russian Export Center”, stressed that all the events held by the RABC are very significant, therefore, the REC provides support and included the XII Session of the RABC and the IV International Exhibition “Arabia-EXPO” in the REC plan for 2019, thereby underlining the high importance of the Arabia-EXPO platform in the development of Russian-Arab cooperation.

V.I.Padalko, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, in his speech stressed that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation would fully support the RABC and expressed its wish that the Union of Arab Chambers would make every effort to ensure that Arab countries participate at the proper level .

Jaber Habib Jaber Hamidawi, Ambassador of the Arab League in Moscow, Raed Bin Khaled Al Cramli, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Russian Federation, Ihab Talaat Nasr, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Russian Federation unanimously noted the representatives and the significance of the upcoming XII Session of the RABC, as well as the Arabia-EXPO 2019 Exhibition, to intensify the dialogue in strengthening economic relations, increasing trade turnover between Russia and ABSK countries. All Heads of Diplomatic Missions present at the meeting confirmed the participation of their countries in the upcoming Events at the highest level.

In conclusion, V.P. Evtushenkov thanked all those present, and expressed the need for active cooperation between all members of the organizing committee to ensure the upcoming Session and Exhibition at the highest level.

The events are included in the plans for 2019 of key departments and will be held with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the League of Arab States, the Union of Arab Chambers, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Moscow Government, Russian Export Center, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Russian Embassies in the Arab States Anahita and the diplomatic missions of the Arab countries in Moscow.