Russian PM to Attend Eurasian Economic Forum After Iran Visit

Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian Prime Minister, is set to embark on a series of diplomatic engagements in the coming days. The Russian government has announced that Mishustin will participate in the Eurasian Economic Forum meeting in Armenia on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. This announcement follows an earlier statement regarding his planned visit to Iran on Monday, October 2, 2023, where he is scheduled to meet with President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Eurasian Economic Forum, a body within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), will convene to discuss several key topics. These include digitalisation efforts, market operations, and cooperation within the union. The EAEU, established in 2015, comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, forming a single market of 180 million people with a combined GDP of $1.9 trillion as of 2020.

The EAEU has been making significant strides in various areas of economic integration. It has been working on creating a common digital platform for member states and developing its own technical regulations and standards. The union has also been exploring innovative financial initiatives, including the creation of a common cryptocurrency and the development of a unified financial market by 2025.

In terms of infrastructure and industry, the EAEU has been fostering cooperation in the space and nuclear energy sectors. It has also been harmonizing pension systems across member states and creating a common labor market to facilitate workforce mobility within the union.

The organization's efforts extend to public health and safety as well. The EAEU has been developing its own food safety standards and working towards establishing a common pharmaceutical market. These initiatives aim to ensure the well-being of citizens across the member states while promoting economic growth and integration.

Russia often presents the EAEU as an alternative to Western political and economic groupings. The union has been actively expanding its international presence, signing free trade agreements with countries such as Vietnam and Singapore. It also has its own supranational bodies, including the Eurasian Economic Commission and a court based in Minsk, Belarus.

As Mishustin prepares for these diplomatic engagements, the focus remains on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing the EAEU's development strategies. The outcomes of these meetings may have significant implications for the future of Eurasian economic integration and Russia's role in shaping regional economic policies.