Firstly on behalf of the Board of the Westminster Russia Forum, I would like extend the best of seasons greetings to all our members, supporters, speakers, team members as well as our wide network of associates and stakeholders!
Like many at this time of the year, we here at the WRF are looking forward to a good rest after what has been a long but productive and successful year with a number of events, a growing blog and committee through to our highly successful annual forum – it has been another important year of growth here at the WRF. Like all organisations, it is important to take stick from time to time to move ahead and this year is no exception – we have fundamentally changed the way in which the WRF operates. Here are a few key takeaways:
- Hugely successful annual multilateral relations conference with some 200 registered attendees, international speakers and great content
- International presence – we now have ties and partnerships with international sister organisations in Germany, Belarus, Russia and Denmark
- A restructured Exec Board
- Office setup in Moscow and great 2020 plans to launch our Moscow team
- Great events plans for 2020
- An active and growing online blog
So what of our bilateral ties – some 2020 projections. Well from our stand point it has been a good solid year of continued and growing ties – politics and govt – govt issues aside, people to people ties are growing.
Culture, trade, education, sport, tourism and technical ties are growing at a good rate with business exchanges and official trade data well up on previous years. With a new govt in No.10 and a potential end in sight to Brexit to, there remains a glimpse of improvement in ties but as with everything in politics the proof shall be in the pudding.
So withstanding any major geo-political or other incidents, we are entering into 2020 with a good, solid and growing functional relationship. All in all not a bad end to the year!
We look forward to working with you all, meeting at events and enjoying a successful 2020 – seasons greetings to all and hearty thanks from the WRF team for all your support this year!
