Articles

IOEC: AN INTEGRATION MECHANISM AT THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY, DIALOGUE WITH GOVERNMENT, EXPERT ANALYSIS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT

What is coming to the fore today is no longer simply dialogue platforms, but fully-fledged integration structures capable of combining three key elements: in-depth analysis, open dialogue, and real action.

– Dmitry Stasyulis, President of the International Organisation for Eurasian Cooperation (IOEC)

MULTIPOLAR WORLD INTEGRATION MECHANISM

Today, as the established global architecture crumbles, new centres of gravity emerge, integration gathers momentum, and—despite Western attempts to hold back existing trends—a steady movement towards a multipolar world order sets in. In this context, integration across Greater Eurasia and the Global South becomes especially important, while upholding state sovereignty and pursuing an independent economic policy are of particular significance. The Islamic world, in this vein, plays a vital role, with the experience of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World” as an institution making a great contribution to the comprehensive dialogue and a climate of trust-based partnership.
That said, the International Organisation for Eurasian Cooperation (IOEC) gains special significance. Its goal is to foster integration, to bring together countries, business and public structures, as well as market participants, and to assist integration groupings in their important mission. The IOEC champions and promotes the ideals of justice and prosperity, founded on equality, sovereignty, respect for traditional values and the history of states and their peoples. These are not mere words; it is the vector guiding the daily activities of like-minded people at the IOEC. Its competencies are practical in nature, implemented through a variety of projects, events, forums, business missions, and struck deals.
Attaching great importance to international, multi-format, cross-sectoral dialogue and to the agreements reached, the IOEC operates at the intersection of public diplomacy, dialogue with government, expert analysis, and practical support for business. The synthesis of these tracks makes the IOEC an effective tool for shaping a multipolar world.
The uniqueness of the GEP lies in the need to harmonise interaction in all fields given the civilisational and conceptual diversity of Eurasia.

IOEC: A PUBLIC PLATFORM FOR GREATER EURASIAN PARTNERSHIP

A timely response to the challenges of our time in international relations is the Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP), put forth by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The GEP positions itself not as a new integration bloc, but rather an “integration of integrations” designed to create a broad integration framework across Eurasia.
The GEP takes into account and respects the sovereignty of partner states, along with their distinctive characteristics, strengths and the multi-speed development. At its core is win-win cooperation ensured by pooling together the potential of states and that of various regional and international formats—such as the EAEU, CIS, BRICS, SCO, BRI, OIC, among others.
Important areas of work in this regard include achieving regulatory and physical connectivity, aligning settlement systems, and removing trade and other barriers hindering cooperation.
At the same time, it is our firm belief that the success of the GEP will depend not only on the joint efforts of the relevant government bodies, interested states and integration groupings, but also on the support and active involvement of business and academia, the expert community, and the public. The uniqueness of the initiative, as we see it, lies in the need to harmonise interaction in all fields given the civilisational and conceptual diversity of Eurasia. In this regard, the experience of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia — Islamic World,” which has proven its effectiveness, is valuable and useful in developing interfaith and intercultural dialogue within the Greater Eurasian Partnership.
Worth noting that the IOEC is actively pursuing a systematic approach to develop the GEP and unlock its potential and advantages for foreign partners. In particular, the World Forum “New Era—New Ways,” organised by the IOEC, is aimed at discussing the GEP with state officials, business,theexpertcommunity,academia and the public.
In 2023, the Forum held off-site sessions in Yerevan and Bishkek, which attracted the political and academic elites of those nations. In addition, the IOEC hosts regular meetings of its sectoral committees—also working on the GEP.
The large-scale meetings of the World Forum “New Era—New Ways” were held in Moscow in April 2024 and August 2025. The growing interest in the Forum is proved by figures: in 2024, it brought together 640 participants from 33 countries, whereas by 2025 that figure rose to 1,000 participants from 55 nations.
The Forum held in August 2025 featured a plenary meeting and two days of thematic sessions—19 of them—examining the Greater Eurasian Partnership and its key elements from different perspectives. Participants discussed the outlines of the project, its role in shaping the new multipolar architecture, and how it aligns with the activities of the Global South, integration groupings and various regional and international formats—such as the EAEU, BRICS, SCO, BRI, and ASEAN.
The main focus was on practical mechanisms for integration, stimulating markets, developing cross-cutting transport and logistics infrastructure, technological sovereignty, and investment in international projects across Greater Eurasia.
In partnership with the Eurasian Economic Commission, a special session was held on the mechanism for financingindustrialcooperationwithin the EAEU. A thematic discussion on the strategic development of the GEP took place with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thus, we can state that the World Forum “New Era—New Ways” and the IOEC have become the leading non-governmental platforms where the Russian President’s initiative is discussed and developed.

The Forum resulted in dozens of international agreements, giving rise to new projects and initiatives. In August 2025, a memorandum was signed on the development of international leasing and on the establishment of the IOEC Council on International Leasing with the heads of sectoral leasing associations across all EAEU economies. In this way, international leasing could receive a significant boost for growth through a relevant agreement covering most aspects of its development.

Important outcomes of IOEC’s work on the GEP track were: exploring the positive impetus of the initiative with the foreign partners, discussing its advantages and mutually beneficial cooperation, organising joint efforts, and moving from debates and discussions towards concrete projects within the IOEC Business Centre.

IOEC BUSINESS CENTRE: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR SUPPORTING BUSINESS

In the current geopolitical context, when the vector of international cooperation is shifting towards Greater Eurasia and the Global South, the role of international communication platforms has increased significantly. Such platforms, however, being merely meeting points for exchanging views, lack effectiveness unless backed by expert analysis and a tangible practical component.
Communication for its own sake— without an in-depth analysis and real delivery mechanisms—risks remaining little more than a collection of declarations and protocol events. In this vein, now coming to the fore are not simply dialogue platforms but integration structures merging three key components: analysis, dialogue, and action.
Expert opinion serves as the bedrock upon which long-term, mutually beneficial relations are built. Without thorough assessment of national risks, sector-specific features, legal frameworks and cultural codes, it is impossible to offer businesses viable models for engagement when entering international markets. Expertise not only helps identify growth points but also allows to foresee potential challenges, minimize risks, and adapt best practices to specific markets.
But even the most profound analysis remains just theory unless it is implemented in practice. It is the practical component that turns negotiations into real contracts, joint entures, and investment projects, includingfindingreliablelocalpartners, supporting negotiations, concluding deals, overcoming administrative barriers, post-contract support, and much more.
The IOEC Business Centre clearly demonstrates that sustainable and fruitful international business dialogue is possible where a discussion platform is reinforced by an expert think-tank and an operational mechanism for supporting business. The Business Centre helps companies enter foreign markets, drawing on the authority of the IOEC, its expert capabilities, and a well-developed network of international partners and diplomatic contacts.
The reach of the IOEC Business Centre reflects a broad geography of business interests, bringing together Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mauritania, Namibia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, the UAE, Vietnam and others.
The World Forum “New Era— New Ways” and the IOEC have become the leading non-governmental platforms where the Russian President’s initiative—the Greater Eurasian Partnership—is discussed and developed.

C20: VOICE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

A significant factor in implementing economic projects and integration initiatives is the involvement of civil society institutions and public structures, which serve as a bridge between government and society.
Among the most credible international public platforms is the C20, a G20 official engagement group, providing civil society organisations and movements with a platform to voice the public position on global issues directly to G20 leaders. In 2024, Dmitry Stasyulis, President of the IOEC, assumed the position of Russia’s Sherpa (representative) to the C20, and in that capacity took part in the G20 Social Summit in Brazil in 2024 and in South Africa in 2025.
Following numerous discussions and meetings, the outcome of C20’s efforts is a policy brief submitted to G20 leaders. On November 6, 2025, such document was adopted, incorporating—on the proposal of the Russian side—the following provisions: supporting and engaging in the Greater Eurasian Partnership on the international level; abandoning unilateral economic sanctions not endorsed by the UN Security Council; advancing the reform of global financial and trade institutions such as the WTO, the IMF, and the World Bank; creating and strengthening of the “North–South” trade platform; promoting historical memory as a basis for peace and international solidarity, as well as eradicating the neo-colonial agenda and any manifestations of fascism; and ensuring that trade, financial and climate agreements support and strengthen national sovereignty and the cultural identity of peoples.
As the Russian side urged, the following provisions were removed from the final communiqué: those establishing the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a partner in conflict mediation; concerning the protection of civic space through the repeal of restrictive laws; promoting a global moratorium on deep-sea mining; calling for the phased elimination of fossil fuel extraction by 2030; among others.
2026-05-06 17:30 Publications №8 ☪️ №8 2026 🔖 PUBLICATIONS INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGIES