MOSCOW, September 19 (RIA Novosti) – The 2014 International Investment Forum, which is taking place in Sochi on September 18-21, aims to create a modern platform for dialogue between businesses and the government that is necessary for the successful implementation of major investment projects in Russia.
The Forum was launched with support from the Russian government, under the slogan "Investments - A Road to Russia's Economic Development."
Within the business program of the forum, the most urgent issues of economic development are raised in open discussions held by government officials, representatives of the business community and various experts.
The first international investment forum was held in Russia in the Krasnodar Region in 2002 and was called Economic Forum Kuban 2002. Its priority was to offer Russian and foreign business circles first-hand information on business conditions in the region and to present new opportunities for developing trade and economic cooperation, as well as investment.
The Kuban economic forum resulted in the signing of eight investment agreements worth over $30 million.
On September 25, 2004, the Russian government ruled to make the economic forum an annual event.
In 2007, the Sochi International Investment Forum became the country's main investment forum.
Each year, the forum is attended by foreign leaders and heads of diplomatic missions, heads of international corporations and Russia's largest companies, experts, and the world's mainstream media.
The 10th Sochi International Investment Forum gathered over 8,200 participants in 2011. Among them was them - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
As part of the forum's business program, the regions of the Russian Federation signed 105 agreements worth 457.1 billion rubles (around $12 billion).
In 2013, the 12th Sochi International Investment Forum was held at the Bolshoi Ice Dome in the Olympic Park. The forum attracted over 9,000 participants from 42 countries and 71 regions of the Russian Federation. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was among the participants.
Delegations were sent to the forum by 13 foreign embassies in Russia and seven diplomatic missions and consulates of Russia's Southern Federal District.
The 2014 Sochi International Investment Forum is taking place at the media center located in the Olympic Park.
