08 September 2016 – Philippine Ambassador to the Russian Federation Carlos D. Sorreta represented the Philippines at the 2nd Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok from September 02 to 03.
The EEF is an investment platform established by President Vladimir Putin in 2015. Its main objective is to promote the development of Russia’s far eastern regions and accelerate the country’s economic integration with the Asia Pacific region.
This year’s forum attracted 3,000 participants, primarily investors and business executives, from 35 countries including China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. Discussions focused on investment opportunities in the Russian Far East particularly in the areas of energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, mining, health, and disaster management, among others.
The highlight of the two-day forum was the plenary session on “Opening up the Russian Far East” featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd served as moderator.
President Putin reiterated that transforming the Far East into a “powerful, dynamic, and advanced region” is a national priority for the 21st century. He pitched for Vladivostok, Russia’s gateway to Asia, as a lynchpin in the envisioned integration process linking Eurasia and the Asia Pacific region. President Park and Prime Minister Abe expressed support -- both affirming that a stable and progressive Russian Far East will have positive implications for Northeast Asia.
Russian and ASEAN businessmen shared success stories on investing in Russia at the ASEAN-Russia Business Dialogue. The prospects for free trade agreements between ASEAN countries and the Eurasian Economic Union were also discussed.
The inaugural EEF which took place in September 2015 gathered together 2,500 participants from 32 countries. The largest delegations were from China, South Korea, and Japan. According to Roscongress, 109 agreements amounting to RUB 1.8 trillion were signed last year. END
