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Published: March 23rd, 2016

Moderator:
Eugene Korchevoi, Deputy Co-Chairman of the Forum, the director of the Russian association of manufacturers of agricultural machinery "Rosagromash"


Speekers:

Konstantin Babkin, Co-chairman of the Moscow Economic Forum, President of Industrial Union “New Commonwealth”

Ruslan Grinberg, Co-chairman of the Moscow Economic Forum, scientific director of the Institute of Economics

Nikolai Kuvikin, CEO IRONDEER, executive director of the Russian Community of Young Entrepreneurs of Russia, a graduate of Moscow State University

Vyacheslav Lokosov, director of the Institute of Social and Economic Studies of Population RAS

Vasily Melnichenko, head of the farm "Galkinskoe", co-chairman of the movement Federal Village Council

Robert Nigmatulin, academician, director of the Institute of Oceanology named after P.P. Shirshov

Dmitry Potapenko, managing partner Management Development Group

Igor Strelkov, the head of the movement "Novorossia", Chairman of the "January 25" Committee

The fourth Moscow Economic Forum, which gathered on 23 and 24 March in the Moscow State University leading Russian and world experts, politicians, businessmen and economists had ended. The moderator of the final panel discussion, in which participants discussed the results of the MEF 2016, became the Director of the Analytical Center "WTO-Inform" Eugene Korchevoi. He noted that 15 conferences, 17 round tables and a number of plenary discussions were held over two days. According to him, all the events were held at a high level.

MEF speaker also mentioned that exactly 17 years ago on March 24, 1999, the aircraft, which flew to Washington, turned over the Atlantic and returned to Russia. "One of the issues that Primakov had to decide in the US was the signing of an agreement with a well-known American company to buy " Rostselmash" practically for nothing. And if the plane had landed in America, the plant would be closed. But now, "Rostselmash" is the market leader in Russia, supplying products to many countries around the world. I would like to say "thank you" to Primakov for the fact that agricultural production "is developing in Russia, - said Eugene Korchevoi.

Leader of the movement "Novorossia" Igor Strelkov outlined the results of discussions held this morning, "Third political force. Activation of regional elites." According to him, all the participants in the discussion agreed that a systemic crisis has already arrived in the country: economic, political and cultural.» Existing political forces - the power and the opposition, even non-system - almost inseparable, their strategies are based on one: the presumption of the West and the need to adjust to his actions", - he stressed

Igor Strelkov stressed out that there were much criticism of the Government and Administration of the President and whole economic system during the discussion. “Naturally, economy and politics are inseparable. The accent was on the regional elites as the base for the third power, capable provide effective economic and other support, because it is they who appeared to be in the most disadvantaged situation at the present. They are completely excluded from the decision-making at the state level, even though they make up a large part of the national elite. Their interests are hardly taken into account. However, the position of regional elites could serve as a real revival of the country, as they are nationally oriented. Regional elites may become our foundation, the third force, because almost all of them identified themselves to her. All the speakers emphasized the fact that the third force must be formed before the crisis enters its thermal phase, and to become a guarantor for the preservation of domestic peace in our country ", - said Igor Strelkov.

The managing partner of Management Development Group Dmitry Potapenko told about the results of the roundtable: "The government and business - how to survive in conditions of" anti-crisis policy of the authorities? ". On the thematic area representatives of the restaurant and industrial sectors, transport infrastructure actively discussed the existing problems of the current state of the economy. According to Dmitry Potapenko, it is necessary to change the existing system radically.

"The fact is that what is being done to the country, economy, people, and businessman - this is just a special case of a citizen - this is unacceptable. We see how the population impoverishes. Over the past five years the number of poor has exceeded 22-23 million, of which we get involved in some vague adventure and do not deal with the economy, and if they do, then it leads to hundreds of thousands of criminal cases, "- noticed Dmitry Potapenko.

Director general of the IRONDEER company, Executive Director of the Russian Community of Young Entrepreneurs of Russia Nikolai Kuvikin talked about his business in the Altai Territory and the outcome of the round table entitled "Youth Business from scratch: problems and solutions". Nikolai Kuvikin noted that the discussion took place in an optimistic way. "There were very different businesses. It was manufacturers, and the people involved in the services, planning horizon was all very diverse. Someone wanted to scale on Russia, someone has already thought about what he had left an inheritance to descendants of our great country. Then with his characteristic romanticism of youth, they were all optimistic. Everyone saw only possibilities. They said: "Yes, indeed, the crisis. Excellent! So, we will more bright and find our niche. "Indeed, young people with their energy and penetrating power certainly will find a niche," - said Nikolai Kuvikin.

According to him, they discussed the opportunities and existing services for young entrepreneurs, in particular the MSU Science Park, which provides support in the scientific and other spheres. The speaker drew attention to the problem of the crisis of confidence, not only between the employer and the supplier, but also among people in general. One solution, says Nikolai Kuvikin may be the formation of professional associations. "Russian youth are ready for changes," - concluded the expert.

Known throughout Russia farmer, head of the farm "Galkinskoe" Vasily Melnichenko traditionally had delivered one of the most brilliant performances of the Moscow Economic Forum. Briefly, reminding the audience, where he comes from, the farmer told about conditions to "stay afloat." By the standards of the Sverdlovsk region, the farm Vasily Melnichenko owns is not the smallest - today 76 people work there. They look after the cattle, grow and harvest food.

He said that it would be possible expand business wider. "We are very willing to work, there are plenty of plans: the feed plant, and the second farm for cattle should be built. It must be, because no one eats the feed, no cows. Six cows on a vast territory. All the cows have been eaten in the perestroika years, all tractor surrendered for scrap. This is the state of our farms", - said Vasily Melnichenko.

However, he noted, it is impossible to expand due to the unattractive lending conditions. "We can not even buy rostselmash harvester, because it is not possible to make the first payment on the loan," - the farmer said.

He stressed that the problem concerns not only his personal farm, but also other farmers. "It's thousands, tens of thousands of my colleagues. Someone lives worse, someone, if they are lucky - a little better. And only 27% of households - is agricultural holdings, who have earned income over the past year. All the rest went to the losses ", - said Vasily Melnichenko.

He said that even a farmer with a known name in the whole country is not able to buy new farm machinery. "There are no banks in Russia. They exist only in order to pay salaries to Gref and Kostin, "- complained the head of the farm.

Officials from regional ministries"had it" from Melnichenko too. Wherever Sverdlovsk peasant goes, every agency - in Ulyanovsk or in the Penza region - boasts the first place in the country in terms of growth performance.

Just what kind of growth, Vasily Melnichenko did not understand - today all over the country in villages schools and hospitals are close, salaries are miserable. The speaker said that these people are heroes of our time, which are being "destroyed, but still are working on the ground."

Vasily Melnichenko is convinced that today most of the decision-making on village issues need to be transfered to the locals. At the end of his speech, he noted with disappointment that the best initiatives of the 90s turned today into the flourishing of family oligarchy.

Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Studies of Population Vyacheslav Lokosov shared a brief summary of the round table "From the quality of life to the population quality." He recalled that Russia has 30% of the planet's resources and is the only power capable to provide comfortable living conditions for its citizens for generations.

At the same time, he said that statistics show that the quality of life in Russia falls. A growing proportion of the poor, social services commercialized. Paradoxically, the data of VTsIOM in this situation suggests that the population approves of the government's actions, feels confidence in the future and gave faith in a better life of future generations.

On the basis of this contradiction sociologist concludes that the Russian population is once again showing the wonders of adaptation and ability to survive. "But what is the price of this adaptation?" - Wondered scientist. Lokosov presented data of Institute of Social and Economic Studies of Population, which demonstrates the decline in health and education in each new generation of citizens of our country. This, according to Lokosovo, is a direct consequence of adaptation.

At the end of his speech academician quoted P. Sorokin, "The fate of any society depends primarily on the properties of its members. A society composed of idiots or mediocre people, will never be a prosperous society. Conversely, a society consisting of talented and strong-willed people, to inevitably create more sophisticated forms of coexistence. "

Results of the MEF 2016 summarized Co-Chair of the MEF, scientific director of the Institute of Economics RAS Ruslan Grinberg. Academician recalled once again that the situation in Russia is not hopeless. He stressed that the MEF 2016 brought together participants from different points of view, but one thing in common: the Russian government needs the new course of economic policy.

Greenberg mentioned the strange dissonance in the life of Russia: on the one hand, there is an understanding that economic policy is destructive, on the other hand, 85% of the population quite honestly supports the president. "People support Putin, but are dissatisfied with the policy, as if it is someone else who holds it," - said co-chair of the MEF.

According to him, there are two possible scenarios: first is to convince the President and the Prime Minister that the changes are necessary, but in this case there is one in a million chance. An alternative is to act in the spirit of a competitive political system. "Competition is Market's soul, without competition in politics economic policy cannot be changed", - said Ruslan Grinberg.

Scientific director of the Institute of Economics RAS asked everybody to be “citizens” and not to show apathy in things concerning political and economical. “You can hate Gorbachev and Eltsin, thinking they were traitors but because of them we have this wide field for expression of our will."- said co-chair of the MEF.

At the end Ruslan Greenberg talked on the political situation in Donbass. He expressed the hope that the president will not deal with the situation in the Novorossia, because it is very dangerous. "It is hoped that the Crimea will be left alone, but the Donbass will never. You can not give in to illusions the sanctions will never be the lifted. I ask you not to give in to the temptation of a third force ", - concluded the scientist.

He also called for a responsible attitude towards the elections. "We know that the government, of course, will abuse. But we can not say that it has unlimited possibilities ", said Ruslan Grinberg.

Co-chairman of the MEF, the president of the Industrial Union "New Commonwealth" Konstantin Babkin, also addressed in his speech, the situation in Ukraine and expressed hope that the Russian President and the society will not give up and will not forget Donbass and will help Ukraine to establish the situation.

Summing up the MEF, Konstantin Babkin concluded that as a result of the forum in the minds of educated people appeared an understanding that the liberal model is not the only one, and yet there is an alternative. Entrepreneur mentioned t again that Russia has all the conditions for a dynamic, sustainable development, and this position was highlighted again at various conferences. "Two-thirds of Russians want changes and are willing to do much to start moving forward. This is the achievement of the Forum. And when millions of people want something - it happens ", - said Konstantin Babkin.

Co-Chair reminded the MEF, what impact the activities of Primakov's government has had on the company "New Commonwealth", which was able to implement a powerful economic breakthrough. "We really have to turn to the country's history. We have Mendeleev, there Griboyedov, who is known as a writer, but it is important and its role as an economist. We need to know our history and build on it. If we honor our ancestors, we will move forward ", - summed up the president of the Industrial Union" New Commonwealth ".

He noted that the MEF already has a certain moral force that causes the public interest, has an effect on people. However, stressed Konstantin Babkin, forum is ignored by mainstream media and power. "What to do? Each of the people present - a successful man, who has authority in their environment. I therefore appeal to everyone to continue their work on a daily basis and to be an active intellectual, that is defending the interests sought to do everything in their workplace and in communication with the environment, translating the idea that things could be much better . We need to be active. There is unconstructive pessimism today, we need optimism ", - said Konstantin Babkin.

In the end he thanked Moscow State University, speakers and all those who actively participated in the work of the Forum.

Source: PR department of MEF