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St. Petersburg Hosts the Opening of the InteRussia Fellowship Programme in Energy

Energy
On July 29, the St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON) hosted the official opening ceremony of the InteRussia fellowship programme in the energy sector for specialists from Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The fellows were welcomed by Igor Maksimtsev, Rector of UNECON; Dmitry Vasilenko, Vice-Rector on International Relations of UNECON; Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director at the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund; and Zhanna Tolstikova, Director General of the TV BRICS International Media Network.

Dmitry Vasilenko noted: “In total, UNECON organizes two one-month fellowships for fuel and energy complex specialists from ASEAN and Latin America. We assemble a team of leading Russian experts, organize visits to major energy infrastructure facilities, and analyze topical cases together with representatives of Russian companies. In this way, participants are immersed in the specifics of the Russian energy business. During the programme, they get to know each other, learn from each other’s experience, and make new connections, which also contributes to regional energy cooperation”.

“The InteRussia fellowship programme for foreign energy specialists aims to promote domestic practices and competencies. As part of the programme, we offer foreigners interested in professional development the opportunity to learn about the best practices of Russian enterprises and organizations involved in oil and gas exploration and development, as well as in major infrastructure projects, including a range of works to expand the use of liquefied natural gas, nuclear power, hydropower, and the development of renewable energy sources. We hope that the fellowship will be a useful experience for our Latin American colleagues, both professionally and culturally”, — Sergey Orlov emphasized in his comment.

The speakers were joined by Daria Ivankova, Director of the TV BRICS International Cooperation Department: “The TV BRICS International Media Network not only creates conditions for the development of information cooperation between different countries, but also facilitates the rapprochement of expert communities and professional interaction in BRICS. In the year of Russia's chairmanship in the association, the media network is a co-organizer and key partner of two fellowships in the InteRussia cycle of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund. For foreign theater artists, who will soon gather in the Russian capital, and for energy specialists, who will undergo a training programme in St. Petersburg and Moscow. TV BRICS has many foreign partners in the business and humanitarian spheres who show sincere respect for Russia and are interested in its best practices in various sectors. This gives reason to believe that the upcoming fellowships will aim to fulfill their professional goals and help strengthen international cooperation”.

After the official opening, the fellows were given a sightseeing tour of St. Petersburg, during which they visited the Catherine Garden, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, and other city attractions.

This year, the participants of the InteRussia programme in energy are specialists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico. The project is aimed at expanding economic and scientific-technological ties with Latin American countries and creating conditions for the development of international dialogue in the energy sector.

During lectures and seminars, the fellowship participants will discuss international energy security, current and long-term trends in the world energy markets, and the prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Latin American countries in the energy sector. The programme also includes practical case studies, meetings with leading experts and government officials, as well as visits to energy infrastructure facilities.

The InteRussia fellowship programme in Energy is implemented by the Gorchakov Fund in collaboration with the ANO “Mezhdunarodniki”, the St. Petersburg State University of Economics, the TV BRICS International Media Network, the Global Energy Association, National Committee for Promoting Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries (NC PECLA), and the Russian Energy Agency (REA) of the Russian Ministry of Energy, with grant support from the Presidential Grants Fund.