The Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the first online signing of an agreement of understanding (Agreement of Understanding . (AOU) means a formal written document that is used as part of a corrective action plan or when a formal agreement is deemed necessary between the licensee or applicant and OCCL) with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and the Highlands region of Lebanon.
The event was attended by the MCCI’s President,Mr. Vladimir Platonov, MCCI’s Vice President.Mr. Suren Vardanyan, the Lebanese Ambassador to Moscow, Mr. Shawki Bo Nassar, Economic Attaché of the Embassy Mr. Soubra. Mohamad Nizar Shoukair, the President of the Beirut and Mountain/Highlands of Lebanon Chamber, who joined the signing via a conference call.
The Lebanese Ambassador, Mr. Shawki Bo Nassar, noted that Lebanese businessmen are interested in developing partnership relations between Lebanon and Moscow, and lamented that Lebanese businesses are of little presence in the Moscow and Russian markets at the moment.
The President of the Chamber of Beirut and Lebanon Highlands affirmed his interest in a mutually beneficial cooperation: "Now it is extremely important for Lebanon to establish economic relations with historically important partners like Russia. Already, at the beginning of 2022, the Lebanese Chamber together with the MCCI plan to organizeB2B negotiations online.
This event should become the first step toward the development of bilateral cooperation. Moreover, the Lebanese side invited the MCCI delegation to visit Beirut with a business mission next summer.
Responding, Mr. Platonov reminded that the MCCI had been maintaining an open dialogue with a number of organizations in Lebanon for years, including through graduates. Many Lebanese businessmen graduated from Soviet and Russian educational institutions. Many of them still maintain ties with Russia and their alma maters.
The President of the MCCI noted that the Chamber is ready to develop economic relations in all directions, especially as there is an opportunity to provide services online as well: "The Moscow Chamber was one of the first to introduce the practice of online exhibitions and is ready to organize similar events for Lebanese entrepreneurs.
After opening remarks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and exchanged commemorative gifts.
At the end of the meeting,Mr. Platonov told the Ambassador of Lebanon that Russia had applied for holding the World Exhibition in 2030 and asked to support Moscow in winning the right to hold the Expo 2030.
For his part,Mr. Bo Nassar said that the Lebanese delegation plans to take part in PRODEXPO-2022 and also asked to assist in making a decision on its participation.
The parties intend to exchange official documents and directly participate in the implementation of all planned projects.