Seven African countries including Ghana and Nigeria joined more than 60 other countries to participate in this year’s ATOMEXPO organized by ROSATOM in Russia, making it the most patronized forum in its history.

In all, 68 countries attended the forum, an upgrade from the 65 participating countries last year. This means that participation for the yearly ATOMEXPO has seen a steady rise over the years, as it recorded 48 participating countries in 2014 and 55 in 2016.

Congo and Georgia were first time participants of the forum, which also saw an increase in the number of exhibitor-companies from 120 last year to 136 this year, as over 600 companies patronized the 2018 edition of the event.

Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia completed the African contingent at the forum

Perhaps the success of ATOMEXPO 2018 lies on the fact that 39 agreements and other cooperation and partnership-making documents, including commercial contracts, were signed during the Forum.

This resonates with the theme for this year’s forum- “Global Partnership – Joint Success”
One of such agreements is the contract for design, supply and construction of the Center of Nuclear Science and technology in the Republic of Zambia.

Director General of ROSATOM Alexei Likhachev was of the view that more countries are veering to develop nuclear power.

“New growth centres want to enable themselves with access to nuclear power in a fast, high quality and economically attractive manner”. This, he said, provides a ground for cooperation in commercial nuclear projects; and in applied and fundamental science. “It is not mere chance that the theme of the Forum this year is: ‘Global Partnership – Joint Success’. Alliances are not only possible, they are necessary for finding mutually beneficial solutions,” he added.

Addressing the Forum, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the ROSATOM Supervisory Board Mr. Sergei Kirienko applauded the Forum’s role in uniting the heads of large companies, governmental structures, non-governmental organizations, leading experts from Russia and other states to discuss the topical issues of nuclear sector at a professional level.

“In the current conditions, the development of the world economy and maintaining the natural balance of our planet hinges on affording access to stable and environment-friendly sources of energy. Our country is traditionally one of the leaders in the field of development of nuclear power, construction and operation of NPP infrastructure, and fundamental and applied studies. This potential needs to be strengthened based, among other, on the broad international cooperation,” Mr. Kirienko said.

For the first time, the ATOMEXPO received on its ground the III Russia-IAEA Nuclear Management School for Managers in Nuclear Organizations. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano took part in its inauguration.