Results Announced for the “Investment in Connectivity” Track at Open Dialogue in NC “Russia”

The final panel pitching for the thematic vector “Investment in Connectivity” took place on April 29 at the National Centre “Russia” as part of the international project Open Dialogue “Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth.” Experts heard presentations from six essay authors on the world’s future, recognised as the best during the preliminary pitch sessions on the first day of the Open Dialogue.

The international project Open Dialogue “Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth” is organised by the National Centre “Russia” and will take place from April 28 to 30. Delegates from 48 countries (all continents of the Earth) will participate. Government representatives, experts, and entrepreneurs will discuss key contemporary challenges and shape multipolar development guidelines.

“It is a great honour for me to come to Moscow again—this time not only as a guest but also as a participant in a significant and timely initiative from the National Centre ‘Russia.’ The Open Dialogue is crucial for our multipolar world because we can all benefit from it. The topics we are discussing are like a breath of fresh air. And I hope that we are not meeting here for the last time, and that this will open the way for everyone who believes that you don’t have to be a very grand country, like the USA or someone else, to thrive. Let us believe in change and new forms of governance, because they give us many resources,” said Barakat Rodrigo (Brazil), founder and chairman of the Meta Economic Forum and expert for the “Investment in Connectivity” track.

The topic “Investment in Connectivity” became one of the main subjects for discussion within the initiative. It attracted 24% of the essay authors participating in the project on the world’s future.

“Open Dialogue and the National Centre ‘Russia’ are exciting and significant platforms for discussing many new ideas and projects—including blockchain, artificial intelligence, and much more. And I am happy I had the opportunity to listen to and discuss such interesting and meaningful essays with my colleagues,” shared Shoh Lukas (Brazil), founder and director of BWS.

The dialogue participants are convinced that without connectivity and communication, there is no future, and the main task of the modern world is to establish such communication. Tadevos Mearaf (Ethiopia), member of the expert commission and founder of ETH-iopia, noted that true experts in their fields had gathered at the Open Dialogue venue—people who want to change the world and know how to do it.

“I found it very important that these issues are being discussed by people who are directly involved in practical activities. They know what they are talking about, which is very relevant and interesting,” said Tadevos Mearaf.

In the “Investment in Connectivity” track, essayists addressed various topics, from modern diplomacy to the international financial system. Dr. Faisal Javaid (Pakistan), Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations, Federal University of Arts, Science and Technology of Pakistan, demonstrated in his work the potential of regional trade through North-South connectivity. Roland Berki (Hungary), co-founder of STRELA, proposed granting young people the status of “people’s diplomat” by analogy with honorary consuls. Wang Hongyue (China), a student at Tianjin University of Foreign Languages, spoke about the revolution in cross-border payments. Victor Daniel Vera Cervantes (Peru), National Coordinator for Public Relations and Education of the International Astronomical Union, dedicated his work to the economic resources opened up by the space industry. Sonkar Suman (India), Associate Professor of Economics at Lakshmibai College, University of Delhi, spoke about strengthening BRICS economies by uniting with the Global South. Economist Joseph Potvin (Canada) proposed a decentralised approach to ensuring reliable money through land-backed reserves.

At the end of the session, experts chose the best presentation of the day. Joseph Potvin was voted the winner. He presented his unique concept in a very original way—with a poem he wrote himself about how money has changed with the flows of time, drifting away from things of actual value.

“Once, everything was measured in silver, and silver was pegged to the value of grain from the Sumerian plains. When the season was good, grain fell in price, and the price increased when there was a poor harvest. So let us return to that ancient wisdom, so that our money is tied to something truly valuable—to our land, which gives life to us all,” said Joseph Potvin.

Thanks to the high rating from the pitching participants, the Canadian essayist will speak at the final Open Dialogue, which will be held at NC “Russia” on April 30.

The international project Open Dialogue “Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth” takes place at the National Centre “Russia” from April 28 to 30, 2025. It brings together international experts from leading analytical centres, including 24 world-class experts, development institutes, higher education, government institutions, business associations, youth organisations, science, and journalism. As part of the NC “Russia” project, they discuss the development of the world economy in four key tracks—”Investment in People,” “Investment in Technologies,” “Investment in Connectivity,” and “Investment in Environment.”

The event was also joined by authors of the best essays on the world’s future from 42 countries. The NC “Russia” expert council selected the works from 696 essays written in 18 languages.