On October 12-15, 2016, the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians of Russia will organize the first Eurasian Regional Economic Forum (EREF) with the support of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The title of the forum will be “Eurasian Union: New Opportunities for Cooperation and Consolidation of Business Communities”.

The Eurasian Regional Economic Forum is an international economic forum aimed at fostering the economic growth of Armenia as a country located at a major junction in the region through the implementation of economic and investment projects on the part of large foreign corporations.

The mission statement of the forum is to establish a platform for information and discourse for the bilateral and multilateral economic partnerships between the business communities of the Eurasian Economic Union, the CIS, BRIKS, SHOS and the member states of the European Union.

Among the participants of the forum will be representatives of state-run and private companies, including small and medium enterprises, investors, financial organizations, experts, scholars, analysts, as well as representatives of state authorities and public circles.

Among the high-profile participants will be representatives of the state authorities and business circles of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Businessmen from China, South Korea, Japan, India, Iran, Georgia, member states of the European Union (France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy), as well as the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and other countries are invited to the forum.

The two-day economic forum will include plenary sessions, as well as panel sessions and roundtable discussions on the following topics:

• New opportunities for the bilateral and multilateral partnerships between the EEU and business communities;
• Customs/tariff and non-tariff regulations and the protection of the domestic market in the context of making the business climates of EEU member states attractive;
• Technical regulations, sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary measures in the context of making the business climates of EEU member states attractive;
• “Silk Road”: transport hubs;
• Energy and energy integration;
• Scientific and innovative technologies;
• Armenia: Development strategy and innovative opportunities;
• Armenia: A fruitful heaven.

The forum will be held at Multi Grand Hotel (5 star hotel, Address: Yerevan-Abovyan Highway N 5, www.multigrandhotel.com).

Foreign participants will pay a $500 dollar fee for participation. The fee includes the package of official documents, a badge and the program for the forum, participation in all the plenary sessions, panel sessions and roundtable discussions, a certificate of participation, official meetings, as well as excursions and escort to and from the airport.

Prestigious local and foreign news agencies will provide coverage throughout the forum.

The forum will also have its official website at http://armcongress.am/main/page/forum where there will be not only news and announcements about the program for the forum, but also information that is necessary for potential investors and businesspeople.