The IX city forum “Perm - East” was held in Perm on October 31, 2023. Representatives of the Indian Embassy in Russia, the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, and the regional public organization of the Indian Diaspora association took part in the events of the business platform.
The President of the Perm Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vyacheslav Belov spoke about the experience and prospects of cooperation between the two countries. He provided data on trade turnover between the Perm Territory and India for 2022 - 174 million rubles. Regular business missions contribute to the development of trade relations between the parties.
“The key task of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry is to promote the development of the regional economy, including through establishing foreign economic relations with foreign partners in countries of priority cooperation, such as India, organizing business missions and negotiations in B2B format,” the speaker said, “Business mission - this is not tourism. We spend a long time preparing for the trip, communicating with the host party, and sometimes looking for companies for a specific request in a narrow business sector. There is already interaction between India and the Perm region, and I am sure that it will develop,” noted the head of the Perm Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”
One of the speakers at the meeting was Matharu Harjinder Singh, Chairman of the Indian Business Council of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly. He recalled the interaction between the USSR and India 35 years ago: tea and medicine, Indian music and films. The audience warmly received these words and responded with applause.
“Today we are approaching the volume of cooperation that was in the Soviet years, this cannot but rejoice. The number of Indian students in Perm universities today also indicates positive dynamics in relations. Today an agreement will be signed that will help us in our future work,” - told Harjinder Singh Matharu.
At the forum, the Chairman of the Indian Business Council of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly was presented with gratitude from the head of the city of Perm for his active participation in organizing and conducting the Ninth City Open Forum “Perm – East”, and for his great personal contribution to strengthening Perm-Indian ties. “I wish you prosperity, good luck, all the best, strength and energy to implement your plans,” noted in the gratitude to Matar Harjinder Singh.
The forum with its business master classes and round tables was given bright colors by the performances of students from one of the Perm gymnasiums and the Indian folk group “Natrang”.
The Perm-East Forum dates back to 2012. During this time, Perm entrepreneurs and city residents became acquainted with such countries as China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Vietnam. The event has become an integral part of the cultural life of Perm. The result of the forums was a number of successfully implemented socially significant projects related to the teaching of Eastern languages in Perm, and the development of martial arts, as well as initiatives that help strengthen the authority of the city of Perm in the Asia-Pacific region.