The third international forum “SO.ZNANIE” was held in Nizhny Novgorod. TV BRICS acted as an international media partner of the event.

This year 2752 people and more than 500 companies from 16 Russian regions took part in the forum. Delegations from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Nigeria, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also came to Nizhny Novgorod.

Sustainable development and ensuring a high standard of living were on the agenda. More than 150 representatives of the authorities, business community and public organisations took part in 33 panel discussions on the issues of social well-being, closed-cycle economy, human capital and high technologies.

The main event was the plenary session “Responsibility Era. How to Build a Sustainable Tomorrow”. Igor Komarov, Russian Presidential Envoy to the Volga Federal District, Aleksey Khersontsev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Gleb Nikitin, Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, and Svetlana Chupsheva, Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, took part in the exchange of views.

Gleb Nikitin said that for seven years the Nizhny Novgorod Region has been participating in various pilot programmes, and from 2022 – in the federal project “City for People”.

“We have gained considerable experience and not only optimised about 50 per cent of processes in government bodies and subordinate organisations, but also reformatted the thinking of our civil servants. According to the results of federal monitoring, the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region has a high level of client-centredness maturity. The region is among the top 10 in terms of the level of customer-centricity maturity of the human resources service and among the top 10 in terms of the quality of life of the population”

Gleb Nikitin Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region

In addition to Russia’s successful experience in implementing innovative management practices, the forum discussed initiatives of the BRICS, CIS and EAEU countries aimed at achieving sustainable development goals.

In an exclusive commentary to TV BRICS, Aleksey Khersontsev drew attention to the role of BRICS in promoting the sustainable development agenda, especially in the context of the Russian presidency of the association.

“The topic of sustainable development is being actively discussed by the BRICS countries, including at the recent Ten Forum in Kazan and other events. The association includes states for which ensuring sustainability and sovereignty of the economy are among the priority tasks. This approach is reflected in all BRICS initiatives and projects. We find common ground with our partners in discussions on environmental, economic and human development issues”

Aleksey Khersontsev Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

For his part, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon told TV BRICS about the country’s interest in joining the Eurasian space and global South associations that demonstrate efficiency in implementing projects in the field of sustainable development.

“The Republic participates in the integration processes in the post-Soviet space. Traditionally, co-operation within the CIS is developing. In 2018, Moldova became an observer in the EAEU. I believe that the country can become an observer of BRICS”

Igor Dodon Former President of the Republic of Moldova

In addition to the business discussion, a cultural programme was organised for the forum participants, which included master classes on folk crafts, presentation of innovative technologies and developments, and an exhibition of art objects made of recycled recyclable materials.

According to the organisers, “SO.ZNANIE” plays the role of a leading platform for dialogue between the state, business and civil society to find solutions to achieve sustainable development goals. The event was supported by the government of Nizhny Novgorod region.

Photo: TV BRICS / International Forum “SO.ZNANIE”