As part of the Open Dialogue at the National Centre RUSSIA, the results of the thematic track "Investments in Connectivity" were announced

The final panel pitching session for the "Investments in Connectivity" track took place on 29 April at the National Centre RUSSIA, as part of the International project Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth." Experts heard presentations from six essay authors on the future of the world, recognised as the best following the preliminary pitching sessions on the first day of the Open Dialogue.

The International project Open Dialogue: "The Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth" is organised by the National Centre RUSSIA and is being held from 28 to 30 April with the participation of delegates from 48 countries (all the continents of the Earth.) Government representatives, experts, and entrepreneurs are discussing key contemporary challenges and shaping development guidelines in a multipolar world.

"It is a great honour for me to return to Moscow — this time not just as a guest, but as a participant in a very important and timely initiative of the National Centre RUSSIA. The Open Dialogue is extremely relevant for our multipolar world because everyone can benefit from it. The topics we are discussing feel like a breath of fresh air. And I hope that this is not the last time we meet, and that this initiative will pave the way for everyone who believes that it’s not necessary to be a great power, like the US or others, in order to develop successfully. Let’s believe in change and in new forms of governance, because they offer us a wealth of opportunities," said Barakat Rodrigo (Brazil), expert in the "Investments in Connectivity" field and founder and chairman of the Meta Economic Forum.

The topic "Investments in Connectivity" became one of the central ones in discussions within the initiative, attracting 24% of the authors of future-oriented essays participating in the project.

"Open Dialogue and the National Centre RUSSIA itself are a very interesting and significant platform for discussing many new ideas and projects — including blockchain, artificial intelligence, and much more. I am very glad to have had the opportunity to listen to and discuss such fascinating and meaningful essays with my colleagues," shared Shoh Lucas (Brazil), CEO & Partner, Fome de Tudo.

Participants of the dialogue are convinced that there is no future without connectivity and communication, and the main task of the modern world is to establish this communication. Member of the expert commission and founder of ETH-iopia, Tadevos Mearaf (Ethiopia), emphasised that the Open Dialogue brought together true experts in their fields — individuals who not only want to change the world, but also know how to do it.

"I found it particularly important that these issues are being discussed by people directly involved in practical work. They know what they are talking about, and that makes it especially relevant and engaging," said Tadevos Mearaf.

As part of the "Investments in Connectivity" track, essayists explored a wide range of topics — from modern diplomacy to the international financial system.

Dr. Faisal Javaid (Pakistan), Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations at the Federal University of Arts, Science and Technology, presented the potential of regional trade through North–South connectivity. Roland Berky (Hungary), co-founder of STRELA, proposed introducing the status of "people’s diplomat" for young individuals, similar to the status of an honorary consul. Wang Hongyue (China), a student at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, spoke about the revolution in cross-border payments. Victor Daniel Vera Cervantes (Peru), National Coordinator for Public Outreach and Education of the International Astronomical Union, dedicated his essay to the economic resources unlocked by the space industry. Associate Professor of the Department of Economics at Lakshmibai College, University of Delhi, Suman Sonkar (India), spoke about strengthening BRICS economies through alignment with the Global South. Meanwhile, economist Joseph Potvin (Canada) proposed a decentralised approach to securing stable monetary value by backing reserves with land.

At the end of the session, the experts selected the best presentation of the day. The winner of the vote was Joseph Potvin. He introduced his unique concept in a particularly original way — through a self-written poem about how money has changed with the flow of time, gradually detaching itself from things of true value.

"Once everything was measured in silver, and silver was tied to the price of grain from the Sumerian plains. In a good season, grain became cheaper; in a bad one, the price rose. So let us return to this ancient wisdom, so that our money may be tied to something truly valuable — to our land, which gives life to us all," urged Joseph Potvin.

Thanks to the high evaluation received during the pitching session, the essayist from Canada will appear as a speaker at the final Open Dialogue, which will take place at the National Centre RUSSIA on 30 April.

The International project Open Dialogue "Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth" is being held at the National Centre RUSSIA from 28 to 30 April 2025. It brings together international experts from leading think tanks, including 24 globally recognised experts, as well as representatives of development institutions, academia, government bodies, business associations, youth organisations, science community, and media. Within the project, the National Centre RUSSIA facilitates discussions on the development of the global economy across four key tracks: "Investments in Human Capital," "Investments in Technology," "Investments in Connectivity," and "Investments in the Environment."

The event also brought together the authors of the best essays on the future of the world from 42 countries. These works were selected by the expert council of the National Centre RUSSIA from a total of 696 essays written in 18 languages.