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Eurasian forum in Verona to focus on innovation, int'l integration

Renewable sources of energy, investments, venture capital, logistics, and infrastructure development will be the main subjects of discussions at the forum

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

VERONA, Italy, October 18 (Itar-Tass) — A 2012 Eurasian forum that opens here on Thursday will focus on innovations and international integration. Renewable sources of energy, investments, venture capital, innovations, logistics, telecommunications, and infrastructure development will be the main subjects of discussions at the forum that will take place in the ancient Palazzo della Gran Guardia.

The forum's programme innovations are based on transformation of global markets, along with changes in economic policy. The change of the forum's geography is also of importance: the Forum Russia-Italy, which has been in existence since 2008 has broadened its scope this year and is for the first time held as a Eurasian one, with the political figures, enterprises, and financial institutions of Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and China being invited to participate.

On the first day of the forum proceedings, speeches are to be made by the guests of honour: Romano Prodi, former head of the European Commission and of the Italian government (video conference), Grigory Rapota, State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Tatiana Valova, Minister on Basic Orientations for Integration and macroeconomics at the Eurasian Economic Commission, Alexander Torshin, First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament, and Gianni Pittellla, First Vice-President of the European Parliament.

The forum has been organized by the "Learning Eurasia" association, a public non-commercial organization which was founded here in 2007. Its principal purpose is to develop and deepen cultural contacts, public and economic relations between Italy and Russia, as well as other Eurasian countries, in the life of which Russia historically plays an active role.

The forum will continue until October 19.

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