Alexey Kazartsev to moderate session on financial infrastructure at II EFEF in Shanghai
The II Eurasian Financial and Economic Forum (EFEF) will be held in Shanghai from April 19 to 23, 2026. The forum will convene representatives from government, business, and financial institutions under the theme "Eurasia: A Space of Trust and Sustainable Cooperation".
One of the principal discussion platforms on the first day will focus on the financial infrastructure of the region. The session will be chaired by Alexey Kazartsev, Candidate of Science, Chairman of the FBA EAC International Banking Committee, member of the BRICS Business Council Financial Services Group, and author of numerous scholarly articles, publications, and patents on international payment systems, mobile application security, and financial technology.
The session agenda, titled "Financial Infrastructure of Eurasia: Settlements, Payment Solutions, and International Leasing for Trade and Cooperation," is tailored to address the current needs of business, which is actively seeking innovative solutions and new opportunities in the evolving economic landscape.
Key discussion points will include:
· Cross-border payments: evaluation of SWIFT usage and alternative systems, assessing associated risks and operational efficiencies.
· Prospects for implementing synthetic account units within SCO, BRICS+, and EAEU.
· Investment climate: identification of growth opportunities for mutual investment, particularly in the innovation sector and industrial collaboration.
· Financing for small businesses (SMEs): examination of necessary support mechanisms for small businesses to integrate into Eurasian supply chains.
· International leasing: analysis of its role as an effective tool for fostering industrial cooperation within Eurasia.
Special emphasis will be placed on practical issues related to the entry of Russian companies into Asian markets, encompassing financial support for projects and the reduction of barriers faced by businesses in new regions.
Invited participants include representatives from key financial and business institutions, such as the leadership of the Association of Banks of Russia, senior vice presidents of prominent banks, experts on China-related matters from Sberbank, and leaders of public and private sector associations, as well as representatives from the Moscow Department of Foreign Economic Relations, the Association of Exporters and Importers, and the Wildberries & Russ platform.
The forum's organizers aim to bridge the strategic objectives of the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Belt and Road Initiative with concrete project implementations. The program includes a plenary session featuring the participation of the heads of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Chinese business associations, as well as sector-specific sessions on robotics, intellectual property protection, and humanitarian cooperation. A notable practical outcome of the forum will be the inauguration of a Russian products pavilion and a cultural exhibition in the heart of Shanghai, aimed at bolstering trust in the quality and provenance of goods.
Registration for participants and partners is currently open.