In 2023, the Russian Investment Forum in Sochi (RIF) will not take place for the fourth time in a row, two sources told Izvestia, citing the Roscongress Foundation (RIF organizer).
Traditionally, the forum takes place in mid-February, but in five regions (Ulyanovsk, Kaluga, Astrakhan and Novgorod regions, as well as the Nenets Autonomous Okrug), Izvestia was told that they did not have information about its holding. The largest business associations also noted that they had not received invitations to participate.
According to data on the Roscongress website, the last time the RIF was planned to be held last year – its dates and business program were known in advance. There is currently no information on the details of the event on the portal. Applications for the construction of stands at the RIF in 2023 were also not placed, Izvestia found out by analyzing the public procurement website.
The last time the RIF was held was in 2019. In 2020–2022, the forum did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is reason to believe that the RIF will no longer be held, Ivan Nikolsky, a member of the CCI committee on congress and exhibition activities, believes. For three years in a row, it could not take place due to the coronavirus, and now, probably, its cancellation is a political story, he added.
Now is not the time to hold such forums, said Georgy Ostapkovich, director of the HSE Center for Market Research. Any such event is a big cost for the costs of its organization. In addition, entrepreneurs in Russia find a way to attract investment even without participating in forums, the expert concluded.
Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:
We stumbled upon the RIF: the forum in Sochi will not take place for the fourth year in a row
