A comprehensive array of economic cooperation issues among CIS member states was deliberated.
Alexei Overchuk at a CIS Economic Council meeting
A meeting of the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States convened in Moscow, presided over by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk.
The participants addressed pressing matters concerning collaboration among the CIS member states.
Opening the meeting, Chairman of the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk underscored that CIS countries are pivotal and close trade and economic partners. These nations maintain cohesion within the Commonwealth area and assure advancement in all principal social and economic indicators.
In the forthcoming year, the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States is set to transition to the Republic of Tajikistan. Summing up the preliminary results, Alexei Overchuk remarked that in 2024 a broad spectrum of undertakings outlined in the Concept of Russia’s Chairmanship of the CIS have been successfully completed. Over 100 events at various levels, encompassing all meetings of the highest statutory bodies of the Commonwealth planned for this period, were conducted within the ambit of the Concept’s implementation.
“The primary aim remains the enhancement of close trade and economic ties. The markets of the Commonwealth nations are traditionally priority markets for us. We are progressively advancing cooperation, displaying economic growth rates that surpass numerous forecasts. In light of contemporary challenges, during our chairmanship, we focused on the necessity to preserve and transform, as well as beef up trade and economic ties, to ensure the region’s food and technological security, to bolster the CIS and its international authority and influence, and to promote the establishment of a shared humanitarian, cultural, educational, and scientific space between the Russian Federation and the CIS member states,” stated the Deputy Prime Minister.
During the meeting, a concept of phased development of a common labour market and regulation of labour migration among CIS member states was adopted, which is called upon to facilitate cooperation among CIS member states in the domain of social and labour relations.
The attendees reviewed a report on the performance of the CIS Interstate Council for Exhibition, Fair, and Congress Activities from 2018 to 2023. Since 2002, as per the resolution of the CIS Council of Heads of State, efforts have been underway to establish permanent pavilion exhibitions of the Commonwealth states at the National Exhibition of Economic Achievements (VDNKh). The Interstate Council for Exhibition, Fair, and Congress Activities plays a crucial role in this initiative. The Council’s activities facilitate the organisation and hosting of exhibitions and congress events with an educational focus and the scientific and technical creativity of the youth in CIS member states, the development of international contacts, the exchange of advanced experiences and technologies, and the creation of favourable conditions for mutually beneficial trade and economic relations.
A draft protocol amending the 9 December 1994 agreement on the procedure for investigating industrial accidents involving workers when they were outside their home state was reviewed.
A package of measures to enhance the safety culture in the peaceful use of atomic energy was approved, which will contribute to fortifying the institutional framework for the nuclear industry’s development, including ensuring scientific and technical support for organisations engaged in developing programmes for the peaceful use of nuclear technologies, considering the IAEA’s recommendations.
Information on the implementation of the decision of the CIS Economic Council of 22 September 2023, regarding the activities of sectoral cooperation bodies in the economic sphere from 2018 to 2023, was presented at the meeting.
A list of priority industries and collaboration areas on industrial cooperation based on national industrial development strategies was adopted. The document aims to consolidate the efforts of CIS member states to stimulate the creation of innovative industrial clusters; scientific research and development aimed at creating new technologies, materials, and developing new competencies and skills; cooperation in the realm of professional training, retraining, and advanced training of personnel in the field of advanced industrial technologies and the production of innovative products.
As part of the information, analytical and reference materials, information was presented on the implementation of the resolution of the CIS Council of Heads of Government, on the concept of establishing a coordinated tariff policy on railway transport of the CIS member states of 18 October 1996, and on the tariff policy of the railways of the CIS member states for the 2023–2024 freight years, on the implementation of the action plan for the agreement on cooperation in the prevention and elimination of forest diseases and wood pests in the border areas of the Commonwealth of Independent States of 2 November 2018, as well as the review of the trade policy of the Russian Federation and information on the use of national currencies of the CIS countries as a factor of enhancing collaborative engagement of national economies.
The subsequent meeting of the Economic Council is slated to occur in April 2025 in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
