On 8 December, the Sixth Small and Medium Business Forum of the SCO and BRICS member states, "The Economy of Partnership in Overcoming Global Challenges," opened in Ufa.
The event took place in a mixed format during International Business Week 2020 (8-11 December 2020). Over 600 speakers from different countries took part in it.
Speaking at the forum, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov noted that in accordance with the principles of the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO member countries continue displaying a high level of solidarity, and mutual support and assistance. He informed the audience about the recent meetings of the SCO Heads of State Council and the SCO Heads of Government Council, which set forth important initiatives, mapped out new tasks and adopted topical documents regulating SCO activities in the political and socio-economic spheres.
Noting the need to further develop and expand direct ties between countries, restore old cooperation chains and create new ones, and promote entrepreneurship, Mr Norov suggested strengthening cooperation between the SCO and BRICS business circles in trade and the economy, digitalisation and modern technology, with the involvement of the younger generations from both associations.
Drawing attention to the emergence of new opportunities in the digital economy and e-commerce, the Secretary-General emphasised the importance of developing cooperation between the business circles of the SCO and BRICS countries in innovation, e-commerce, upgrading digital literacy, training IT specialists, and the introduction of digital tourism and remote education. He also noted the need to ensure access to cutting-edge IT in the SCO states, especially in rural areas.
Summing up the above, Mr Norov said that the SCO countries would have to do much for expanding trade and economic cooperation and resolving current financial and economic problems.
Special Presidential Representative for SCO Affairs Bakhtiyor Khakimov expressed confidence that the SCO countries would overcome pandemic-related difficulties and would return to normal life. He said the SCO is successfully moving forward in line with the requirements and tasks of a new time, relying on the accumulated vast experience in political cooperation and a solid contractual foundation.
Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov told the audience about the current state of the region's economic development against the background of reduced foreign trade due to the restrictions of international ties. At the same time, he spoke about the positive trends in investment growth in the nine months of 2020. He also mentioned increased support for small and medium-sized businesses provided by the state, and growing production of personal protection gear and medical equipment in the republic. Mr Khabirov emphasised that from now on human health as an important social value will be the main goal of economic development.
Emphasising pandemic-triggered economic changes, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergei Katyrin said that due to the reduction of logistics supply chains many countries have started bringing their production closer to consumer markets. He said this circumstance prompts the development of light industry, which, in turn, gives an impetus to the operation of small and medium-sized businesses. Mr Katyrin noted that before the pandemic, clothes manufacturers were working at 60 percent capacity whereas now they do not have enough capacity to fulfill all the orders. In this connection he highlighted the need to use new opportunities and develop international cooperation between SCO and BRICS businesses.
Consul General of the PRC in Kazan Wu Yingqin told the audience about the main areas of inter-regional cooperation between China and Russia. He described the measures taken by China to stabilise the epidemiological situation,
recover the economy, support small and medium-sized businesses and preserve jobs. Mr Wu Yingqin noted that promotion of Russian-Chinese trade and economic cooperation is one of the priorities of China's foreign policy as part of Belt and Road Initiative. He confirmed the willingness of China to share its experience and knowledge in countering COVID-19, thereby contributing to the creation of the Global Health Society.
During the first day of International Business Week 2020, the participants discussed the most urgent issues of small and medium-sized businesses, international cooperation amid the pandemic, digitalisation in business and education, and promising areas of cooperation between the SCO and BRICS small and medium companies.