The Customs Union – EurAsEC Integration Breakthrough Investment Forum was held on September 24 in the city of Almaty (Kazakhstan) under the initiative of the Eurasian Business Council, which organized the event.  Additional support for the event was provided by the following participants: the Secretariat of the EurAsEC Integration Committee, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TPP RF), the Association of Financial and Industrial Groups of Russia, METROPOL Group of companies, the Astana Finance JSC (AO Astana Finans), and the Eurasian Development Bank.
The Forum was held to further help strengthening cooperation between the EurAsEC member states’ business communities, and attracting investments as well as  innovative projects under the new favorable conditions that are being developed with the accelerated creation of the EurAsEC Customs Union.
The Forum was attended by 210 representatives of EurAsEC member states’ state administration agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as members of financial and industrial business groups, scientists and the media.
The Forum was opened by the Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Eurasian Business Council Non-Commercial Partnership and President of the Association of Financial and Industrial Groups of Russia, Oleg N. Soskovets.  He noted that the question of the Customs Union’s creation (which for now only includes three states – Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) has essentially reached its home stretch.
EurAsEC General Secretary T. A. Mansurov emphasized in his presentation that: “The political will of the heads of state and practical steps being taken by the three nations’ governments will ensure that the Customs Union is created one year ahead of the schedule – in other words, by January 1, 2010.  This event marks a true integration breakthrough for the Eurasian Economic Community.”  He also noted that checkpoints would be removed from the Russian-Belarus border as of July 1, 2010, and from Russia’s border with Kazakhstan – on July 1, 2011.
Head of METROPOL Group of companies M. V. Slipenchuk, who is also Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Business Council Non-Commercial Partnership, reported on the Business Council’s objectives and first operating results.  He especially emphasized that the Eurasian Business Council was assisting the implementation of specific projects.  “Thus, among other things, we are ready to announce today that the East Siberian Metals Corporation and the Ulbinsk Metallurgical Combined have signed a cooperation agreement on a beryllium ore processing project at the Yermakov deposit.”
The Forum also witnessed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Eurasian Business Council and the Eurasian Development Bank.
The Forum’s work will be summarized in a series of recommendations on ways to develop and strengthen the EurAsEC member states’ business cooperation in contemporary conditions.

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