Events

Galina Karelova: Strengthening multidimensional ties between countries and integration associations requires modern infrastructure

The Deputy Speaker took part in the UNIDO international conference “BRIDGE for Cities − Belt and Road Initiative: Developing Green Economies for Cities.”


Deputy Speaker Galina Karelova attended the opening ceremony of the “BRIDGE for Cities − Belt and Road Initiative: Developing Green Economies for Cities” (Bridge for Cities 4.0) in Vienna.

Bridge for Cities 4.0 is an annual event organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) as part of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and forming an urban-centric platform. The forum’s key topic this year was the role of the fourth industrial revolution in promoting urban innovation under the Belt and Road Initiative and beyond.

“This event is an excellent opportunity to discuss the priorities of industrialization and the sustainable development of cities, as well as to share experience with advanced technology and breakthrough solutions. We highly appreciate the fact that the UNIDO is so concerned with these issues and, of course, addresses the expansion of women’s economic rights,” the Deputy Speaker said in her speech.

Galina Karelova remarked that a new stage in cooperation with UNIDO on the women’s agenda was reached at the Second Eurasian Women’s Forum in September 2018.The UNIDO appointed its Russian Goodwill Ambassador. In June 2019, the UNIDO and the Council of the Second Eurasian Women’s Forum signed a joint declaration. The MP expressed the conviction that “The Joint Declaration will give an even more powerful impetus to our cooperation.”

“In Russia, innovative technological and management solutions for sustainable urban development are being implemented at the government, corporate and entrepreneurial levels,” Galina Karelova noted. One example of this is the Smart City project under the Housing and Urban Environment national project and the Digital Economy national programme. The Smart City solution bank already includes over 300 projects.

The Deputy Speaker noted that the Federation Council, as a house of regional representatives, focuses in particular on the sustainable development of cities and the implementation of management and economic innovation in Russian regions. These topics are at the centre of discussion at the Regional Social Innovation forums. The third forum took place on 19−21 June 2019 in Moscow and was attended by over 30,000 participants from 16 countries.

 “Russia is open to active cooperation with all interested partners when it comes to searching for new drivers of growth, strengthening relationships on the Eurasian continent and solving common tasks,” Galina Karelova stressed.