Yalta International Economic Forum

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The Yalta International Economic Forum

The Yalta International Economic Forum (YIEF) is an annual business event held in the city of Yalta on the Crimea Peninsula since 2015. As a premier international forum for discussing socio-economic development issues, it brings together owners and heads of Russian and foreign companies, politicians from around the world, ministers of the government of the Russian Federation, governors, senior leaders of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, entrepreneurs of the region, and other high-ranking officials.

Since its inception in 2015, YIEF has established itself as one of Russia's four largest economic forums, alongside the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Eastern Economic Forum, and the Sochi Investment Forum. Notably, it is also the largest forum held in Crimea since its annexation by Russia. The event has consistently attracted a significant number of participants from over 26 countries, with attendance figures reaching as high as 1,100 people in 2016.

The mission of YIEF is multifaceted, aiming to create conditions for investments into the Free Economic Zone (FEZ) in Crimea, promote economic development in the region despite the negative impact of sanctions, and foster integration with Russia. To achieve this goal, the forum is organized by the Yalta International Economic Forum Foundation and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea, with support from the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.

The event is led by a high-profile Organizing Committee, headed by Sergey Aksenov, the head of the Republic of Crimea, and co-chaired by Andrei Nazarov, co-chairman of the public organization "Business Russia." Rustam Muratov serves as the director of the YIEF Foundation. The forum typically takes place in April, with preparatory business events held throughout the year in cities across Russia and around the world.

The inaugural Yalta International Economic Forum was held on April 17-18, 2015, attracting over 600 participants from 13 countries, including Russia, Italy, Slovenia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Japan, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Greece, among others. This marked a significant beginning for an event that has since become a cornerstone of economic diplomacy in the region.