Belarus and Russia intend to expand cooperation in congress and exhibition activities

The document signed today opens up new prospects for cooperation between Belarus and Russia in congress and exhibition activities, which is especially relevant considering the construction of the International Exhibition Center in Minsk. The initiators of this agreement emphasize its importance: exhibition events, as the international exhibition-forum “Russia” shows, play a significant role in demonstrating the achievements of the state, key projects and intersectoral developments, as well as contribute to the development of patriotism and motivation for creative activity.

“Only professionals know firsthand how difficult it is to organize exhibitions, what a path it is necessary to go from the idea and concept development to the implementation of a large-scale event. At the same time, thanks to this hard work, we give emotions and create meanings, as exhibitions are a living human communication. We are grateful to our Russian colleagues for their willingness to share their invaluable experience,” Director of the National Exhibition Center BelExpo Sergey Baran appealed to the guests from Russia.

The Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements ‘Russia’”, with which the Belarusian side signed a cooperation agreement today, is the host of the event that was given high priority in both Russian and foreign media - the Russia Forum. The exhibition was held on the territory of the Moscow complex of the Exhibition of National Economic Achievements from November 4 to July 8, and over nine months it attracted more than 18.5 million visitors, including not only Russians. The guests were presented expositions of 89 Russian regions, federal agencies, corporations and public organizations, as well as cultural, business and educational programs. After the exhibition, the National Center “Russia” was established by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will work on a permanent basis to demonstrate the achievements of the state, strengthen national identity, form Russians' sense of pride in their country, develop professional skills among children and youth, and preserve the heritage of international “Russia”.

According to Sergey Baran, Russia broke stereotypes and turned the whole congress and exhibition industry upside down. The Belarusian side is ready to adopt the best experience, and in return - to share its own experience accumulated over 55 years of BelExpo's operation.

“It was the Belarusian team that made the first step towards our future in the exhibition business. We see that we can learn a lot from you, from your truly progressive team, we take a lot of things into consideration: how Belarus is developing, how your congress and exhibition activities are improving. The main thing now is to start this exchange. We are already outlining various plans“, Natalia Virtuozova, General Director of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements ‘Russia’”.

The beginning of the chapter of the “Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements ‘Russia’ may be the increase of mutual tourist flow between Belarus and Russia. The specialist is convinced that both sides can receive a much larger number of tourists, who will receive, and the Russian guests were convinced of this by personal example, a very high level of service. In addition, Natalia Virtuozova noted that there is an underestimation of each other in this respect, but at the same time the potential is huge, so we need to talk about mutual advantages even wider and louder. The congress and exhibition activities will certainly not be left out of the new round of Belarusian-Russian cooperation.

“We have the experience of our “Russia”. But we have seen that a very professional team works at BelExpo as well. We will pay a lot of attention with our colleagues to the issue of making some exhibition projects joint. This is very important for us, because it is the exhibition that opens up many things unknown to a person up to a certain point, and behind it there are huge prospects. We will work“, said the General Director of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements ‘Russia’”.

Today, a new stage of Belarusian-Russian cooperation in the exhibition sector begins, which has reached a higher level. Whereas previously BelExpo interacted with Russian partners through the exchange of exhibitors, now the focus is shifting to the organization of joint events with deeper ideas and creative concepts.

“I was surprised by everything that happened there, surprised by the scale, and most importantly by the fact that this exhibition gave people genuine emotions. People went for emotions, they saw and were proud of what their country does, how it lives. Belarusian society also has a demand for such events,” shared his impressions from his repeated visits to the Russia Forum, Sergey Baran.

In an interview with journalists, the head of BelExpo noted that last year the country held a large-scale exhibition event “Belarus Intellectual” following the President's directive. The National Academy of Sciences presented the achievements of Belarusian science, which attracted the attention of entire labor collectives, families and friends. Nothing prevents repeating this experience and surprising the audience again.

“The International Exhibition Center is being built in the capital. Taking into account the experience of our Russian colleagues, we will be able to hold events of this scale, causing great interest, for the Belarusian people to see what we have achieved over the years of independence,” said Director of the National Exhibition Center BelExpo Sergey Baran.

In addition to the business part of the program of the Russian delegation's visit to Minsk, a joint seminar will be held after the signing of the agreement, where the parties will exchange views and draw up a plan of activities to be implemented together from now on.