24.05.2024 / News

The IV Eurasian Women's Forum will give a new impetus to the development of cooperation with CIS countries

The senator commented on the results of the study “CIS countries in the eyes of the Russian consumer.” It was conducted by the team of the EWF Council project “Research on the socio-economic status of women: Russian and international experience” (NAFI Analytical Center).

Sociologists surveyed Russians in all regions, assessing respondents’ awareness of customs and culture, local production, the level of trust in goods, and the tourist attractiveness of 9 CIS countries. According to experts, public opinion research has generated many ideas useful to entrepreneurs and company managers who intend to enter new markets of the Commonwealth with both export and import.

Galina Karelova voiced one of the main conclusions of the study - the need for more intensive development and strengthening of intercultural communications between the CIS countries. The percentage of awareness among respondents about the culture of their closest neighbors is currently low. Only two countries out of nine - Belarus and Kazakhstan - are familiar to Russians quite well; 7 out of 10 respondents trust goods from these regions. As a result, these same countries arouse greater tourist interest among Russians.

Cooperation in the field of culture, tourism, and the media should be increased, the senator said:

“The Eurasian Women’s Forum, as one of the most high-profile international platforms, including one playing a global consolidating role, is convinced that it will attract attention to this topic and give new impetus to its development. Combining the efforts of women leaders and women's associations of the CIS countries, aimed at increasing awareness of the countries and developing intercultural ties, will have a direct impact on increasing the efficiency of economic interaction.”

According to the results of the study, the CIS countries today are associated mainly with the supply of vegetables and fruits, as well as clothing and footwear. Trust and willingness to purchase in these segments have already been formed; now the task of suppliers is to more actively promote local brands and create interest among potential consumers in other groups of goods. These are household chemicals, medicines, household appliances and electronics, cars and spare parts for them.

The results of the analysis of the tourism market are also interesting. Experts came to the conclusion that the host country should more actively market offers for wealthy travelers, as well as family tours.

One of the main barriers to expanding economic cooperation in consumer markets was the lack of information about how the Commonwealth countries live, what products they produce and what cultural meanings are put into them. Manufacturers should also adapt marketing strategies and product packaging to the Russian cultural code.

2024 is the year of Russia’s presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States; more than 150 events are planned for this period, the key one being the autumn CIS summit in Moscow.