Infrastructure development of cities
Moscow Urban Forum
July 2, 2021
History
In 2018, MCCI held two events as part of Moscow Urban Forum (MUF) in which speakers and participants discussed issues relevant as for chambers of commerce as for development of major cities around the world.
This was aroused great interest of chambers of commerce, entrepreneurs and media. The event was divided in two panel discussions in framework of MUF:

  • Small and medium - size business in urban environment.
Nowadays small and medium – sized businesses are the basis of financial stability in most countries with a long traditions of market economy. In recent years, it has been actively developing in Russia. Due to the massive potential customer base, the largest number of entrepreneurs appears in big cities. However, this creates high competition as well. So, how to achieve proper balance? Why is it important for representatives of small and medium-sized businesses to support public associations of entrepreneurs? Is it possible to combine the experience and capabilities of cities - centers of business activity - for mutually beneficial development of new interesting projects? And what role can the digitalization of the economy play in this? These questions were discussed during panel discussion, involved represents of authorities, specialists and businessmen.
  • Hospitality industry and models of its development in urban agglomerations.
The most important task, which is solved with varying degrees of success by many large cities, to make sphere of hospitality attractive for tourists as well as interesting and popular for business people. Additionally, create jobs and income base of the budget. One of the key questions is how to use the advantageous geographical position of Moscow and 24/7 life of the city for this purpose?
Main topics for discussion were:
  • Urban policy in the hospitality industry: how to become attractive;
  • Creating the hospitality infrastructure: an effective model;
  • Services for guests (car sharing, bike rental, taxi, e-city, etc.).
Also, in fields of Moscow Urban Forum 2018 events MCCI initiated an establishment of the Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Business Activity Centers in the Eurasian Economic Area, which includes by nowadays 8 Chambers: Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi Chamber of Commerce (Pakistan), Bratislava regional Chamber of SCCI, Central-Siberian CCI, Istanbul CC (Turkey), Yerevan CCI (Armenia), Ural CCI, Jakarta CCI (Indonesia).
The main purpose of the Council is support of measures fostering comprehensive cooperation between a broad range of participants, among them small and medium businesses and members of international CCI.
In 2019 Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry held two panel discussions in framework of the forum
Moscow Urban Forum 2019 "Quality of life. Projects for a better city" was dedicated to the presentations and discussion of the initiatives and megaprojects that were launched by city administrations, business, citizens and are aimed at balanced and sustainable urban development. It was focus on a discussion of housing, sustainable urban development, social infrastructure, transport, and smart city technologies.

  • The development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russian Federation;
For recent years, a plenty projects have been done in city to increase tourist attractiveness: new digital and offline services was created; public transport, taxis and carsharing has been developed; many new hotels was built. Every year a huge number of activities are taking place to attract more tourists.
Nonetheless, development of tourism industry had different intensity depends of regions, among these, Moscow region also had the ways for improvement so far. Moreover, Moscow citizens would like to be able to visit other regions of Russian Federation, for which good environment should be provided.
MCCI created an integrated system which unites all parties involved in hospitality industry through the Institute of Chambers of Commerce, in order to develop common goals and coordinate our actions. Such a platform for dialogue could be created not only in individual regions, but could also successfully operate within framework of the Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Business Activity Centers in the Eurasian Economic Area established a year ago.

  • Digitalization – new level (from solving everyday tasks to international business communication).
Modern world cannot be imagined without a digital technology. They are used in all spheres of life. During the panel discussion was discussed how digitalization is changing life in the city, starts from taxi aggregators and mobile applications created by condominiums for its inhabitants, to the international communication platform “Business market”.

The expert discussion platform under auspices of MCCI was also expanded agenda of MUF-2019 through participants from Chambers of the largest megacities in the world, including members of the Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Business Activity Centers in the Eurasian Economic Area established in 2018.
This year the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry traditionally held events in field of Moscow Urban Forum, dedicated to key trends in modernization of an infrastructure in a modern city in format of one-day congress "Infrastructure Development of Cities".
The world events in 2020, quarantine restrictions caused by the pandemic, had a tremendous impact on business. An entirely new prospects for development of urban and local tourism have been opened for business associations, as well as an introduction of the latest technologies and practices in the field of transport and related infrastructure.
During panel discussions, participants learnt more about effective programs of interaction between the Moscow Government and MCCI on creation of a comfortable business environment in the city and discussed different ways to improve these processes.
A special place in a program was given to issues related to electric transport projects in Moscow and Moscow region as drivers of social-economic development of territories. Technological solutions, specificities of design and development and public-private partnership schemes.
An exclusive thematic of event was a revival of old estates and development of related activities: programs of local and regional tourism, transport communications, public events etc. The leadership of the Association of Owners of Historic Estates was directly involved in shaping this part of a program.
The congress "Infrastructure Development of Cities" aimed to contribute to solutions of the following tasks
1
Consolidation of an "infrastructure" business community
2
Forging commercial and partnership relations between private infrastructure projects, investors, suppliers of products and services
3
Drawing the attention of authorities, regulators and business community, to private initiatives in the development of infrastructure in a modern city
4
Establishing business communications at interregional and international levels