The second “Corporate GR” Forum, organized by Baikal Communications Group, was held on December 5, 2024 at Baltschug Kempinski Hotel in Moscow. The previous event was held on April 4, 2024.

The GR Forum is an authentic, closed platform that unites representatives of the corporate sector of the GR industry. It was created to strengthen the GR function, as well as consolidate the professional community in the face of global changes.

The speakers at the event were practicing specialists in public relations, heads and top managers of large Russian and foreign companies, representatives of Russian universities.

The following topics were discussed during the Forum:

  • An analytical review of the main trends in business regulation in 2024-2025.
  • The GR function in the company through the eyes of the CEO.
  • How can we shape the industry agenda and become a driver of regulatory changes? The case of a manufacturing company.
  • Anti-crisis GR: what’s new in promoting the interests of foreign and Russian companies.
  • Education of personnel: education in the field of lobbying and GR.

Each session was accompanied by an active discussion and exchange of experience of specialized specialists from different industries. At the end of the Forum, there was an evening cocktail, networking, and discussion of the book by Eduard Voitenko and Anastasia Parfenchikova “Regulation of GR and lobbying in Russia. The status quo or the search for new solutions”.

Here are some of the theses voiced by the participants of the discussions within the framework of the GR forum:

  • The number of regulatory opportunities for business is decreasing, and therefore the work of GR departments of a number of companies is being reoriented to search for new resources and advantages in cooperation with the state and the formation of a new constructive agenda. Also, the key KPIs of GR divisions remain the reduction of financial costs of the business and the effective implementation of the GR strategy (if any).
  • The lack of a GR function in the company in modern conditions reduces the competitive advantages of the business. The heads of large enterprises and GR departments shared cases of successful cooperation with federal executive authorities and regional authorities in order to obtain state support for economic sectors and individual companies.
  • Foreign businesses continue to develop the GR function in Russia, but working in new conditions has its own specifics. So, in the case of companies from China, the function of maintaining intercultural communication and communicating to stakeholders the specifics of the functioning of Chinese business comes to the fore. The work of GR departments of some companies has become less visible in the public field, which does not reduce its relevance.
  • The foreign jurisdiction of the parent company of the Russian business carries additional risks, but is not an insurmountable barrier to communication with authorities. Thus, if there is an active position on business development in Russia and when building partnerships with the state, it is possible to receive state support.
  • In the context of an increasing shortage of personnel, the issue of training young specialists is becoming increasingly relevant. In this regard, the GR divisions of some companies are building mutually beneficial relationships with Russian universities, thus participating in the training and recruitment of young specialists. There is also an increasing demand for advanced training courses in the field of GR and lobbying.

At least 80 practicing GR specialists took part in the event.

The GR Forum has become a regular event where representatives of the corporate sector of the GR industry will be able to continue discussing topical issues and exchange effective practices in the field of business-government interaction.

The next Forum will be held in December 2025. You can follow the details in the company’s telegram channel and on the event’s website.

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