On August 20, 2025, the opening of the SCO Business Incubator International Acceleration Program in the format of the SCO Youth Forum took place in Omsk, the Youth capital of Russia. The event brought together more than 400 entrepreneurs: participants and experts of international economic cooperation from 10 member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, addressed the words of encouragement to entrepreneurs.

"The SCO Business Incubator annually strengthens its position as an important international platform for young entrepreneurs. This year, the program again includes participants from previous years, now in the role of mentors who are ready to share their experiences, help new teams and accompany them on the way to project implementation. The SCO Youth Forum has the same unifying role, which will become an important platform for an open dialogue on the most pressing issues, from economic cooperation and scientific and technological progress to cultural exchange and the preservation of historical memory," Alexander Novak emphasized.

Anyone interested in international economic relations could attend the SCO Youth Forum. The business program consisted of lectures, intensive courses and workshops from Russian-speaking and foreign industry experts.

The guests of the SCO Youth Forum were welcomed by the Governor of the Omsk Region, Vitaly Khotsenko.

"Russia pays great importance to partnership within the SCO format. But cooperation with the SCO countries is of particular importance for the Omsk region. Last year, the region's foreign trade turnover with the SCO member states amounted to 65% of the total turnover of the Omsk region. We have the potential to further increase the volume of bilateral trade and joint projects. We are counting on young leaders who are mobile in everything, open to new things, and interested in cooperation. It is young people who create innovations and are not afraid to take responsibility. I am confident that the SCO Business Incubator will help participants find new partners, enter international markets and successfully implement their initiatives in the interests of the development of the entire integrated union," said Vitaly Khotsenko, Governor of the Omsk Region, Chairman of the Government of the Omsk Region.

The SCO Youth Forum is designed to become a link between representatives of the business community and government agencies of the 10 SCO member states. Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and President of the Soviet Peace Foundation, emphasized the importance of this role in his welcoming address to the participants.

"Today Omsk has become a platform for an open dialogue and exchange of ideas between young leaders of the SCO member states. The SCO Youth Forum and the SCO Business Incubator take place at the same time and it creates a unique atmosphere for the exchange of experience and ideas and opens up new horizons for cooperation. I am confident that the results of the work will become a solid foundation for strengthening friendship between the SCO countries, and the contacts and initiatives created in Omsk will be further developed and will bring real benefits to our people," Leonid Slutsky said.

Evgenii Primakov, Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation, also sent the words of encouragement to the participants of the SCO Youth Forum. He stressed the importance of holding these events in the year of the public diplomacy centenary.

The main plenary session of the SCO Youth Forum was held under the sign of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, emphasizing the role of youth in preserving historical memory. Vakhtang Hiklandze, Deputy Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, emphasized the key importance of the fusion of traditions and innovations for the sustainable development of the SCO member states.

"The SCO Business Incubator is a unique platform where we create conditions for promising ideas of young leaders to receive real support: expert assessment, partnership, investments. But it is important to remember that the success of a business is always based on the values that unite us. In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, we are particularly aware that the younger generation must not only create innovations, but also carefully preserve historical memory. It is at the junction of tradition and progress that sustainable development is born. I am sure that the forum will become a powerful boost for dozens of joint projects, and each participant will find here not only knowledge and opportunities, but also firm faith in themselves and their ideas," said Vakhtang Hiklandze, Deputy Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.

The SCO Business Incubator International Acceleration Program will provide participants with the opportunity to pitch their business projects to investors, conclude business partnership, and get acquainted with the work of advanced enterprises in the Omsk region. The rich business program will last three days.

The first partnership has already been established. Thus, the Governor of the Omsk Region, Vitaly Khotsenko, signed agreements with China Chengtong International Investment, the Dome Foundation Investment Fund and the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The subject of the agreements is cooperation and collaboration in the field of economics and investments.

The business program of the SCO Business Incubator with the participation of more than 100 experts and mentors will last until August 24, 2025. As a result, the leaders of international relations will form the first Club of Mentors and investors of the SCO.

The arrival of foreign participants is organized within the framework of Rossotrudnichestvo's flagship program "New Generation".

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the International Youth Festival, and in between, international themed assemblies for 2,000 participants will be held under the auspices of the WYF. The first Assembly is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Nizhny Novgorod. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.

According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.

The SCO Business Incubator International Acceleration Program is being implemented with the participation of the SCO Youth Council, Rosmolodezh, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Government of the Omsk Region, the World Youth Festival Directorate, the Soviet Peace Foundation and the ANO "Leaders of International Cooperation". The program is aimed at promoting international youth entrepreneurship, advancing innovative projects, forming sustainable business ties, and expanding interstate cooperation in the SCO space. The information partners are TASS and “Eurasia Today”.