On February 2, 2017, Roscongress Foundation CEO Alexander Stuglev met President of the All-Russian Society for the Deaf Valery Rukhledev in Moscow to sign an agreement of intent.

The agreement envisages the launch of a new project: the All-Russian Forum for the Deaf. The event is intended to be a key platform to raise awareness of the sociocultural and economic potential of the All-Russian Society for the Deaf.

Its key aims will include developing cross-sector collaboration to promote and implement mechanisms that will involve the authorities and business representatives in the process of improving quality of life for those who suffer from hearing loss. It will also look at drawing up a series of recommendations for amendments to current legislation, and will put together a team of experts specifically to defend the rights of this social group.

“The possibility of joining forces with the All-Russian Society for the Deaf was first discussed at senior management level in autumn 2016, at the Russian Investment Forum”, said Mr. Stuglev. “The signing of this agreement of intent has come about as a direct result of that meeting. We now have a concrete plan for working together to organize and run a specialist forum. It is my belief this event will play an important social role. Among other things, it will contribute to the development of human capital.”

The 16th Investment Forum will be held on February 27–28, 2017.