A nuclear energy expo was concluded in Russian city of Sochi on May 16 with a call to create broader international cooperation to exploit the nuclear source as potential environment-friendly source of energy, reports UNB. Russia's state atomic energy corporation Rosatom organised the expo titled "10th International Forum ATOMEXPO 2018", participated by a record number of 68 countries including Bangladesh.

According to a Rosatom statement released in Dhaka, over 600 companies were represented at the ATOMEXPO, while 136 companies exhibited their products and services. Number of participants including media representatives was over 4,000.

Rosatom has been engaged in Bangladesh as contractor to build a 2400 MW nuclear power plant project in Rooppur.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin in his written address to the Forum said, "Over the past years your forum, which unites heads of large companies, governmental structures, non-governmental organizations, leading experts from Russia and other states, has proven itself as the authoritative platform where topical issues of nuclear sector are discussed at high professional level."

He mentioned that 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.

Putin said Russia is traditionally one of the leaders in the field of development of nuclear power, construction and operation of NPP, and fundamental and applied studies.

"This potential needs to be strengthened based, among others, on the broad international cooperation,"

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano, President of the World Nuclear Association Agneta Rising, President of the World Association of Nuclear Operators Jacques Regaldo, and Director-General of Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development William Magwood took part in the plenary session.

They discussed on the most critical for nuclear sector topics and outlined landmarks for the next period of joint work of the entire nuclear community.

The three-day business program of the forum included "Digital Future and Industry 4.0", "New Power Engineering" and "People of Nuclear Industry".

Separate roundtable sessions were also held during the expo. These roundtables discussed, among other things, - "Globalization as a Key Success Factor: Building NPPs in a Partnership Arrangement"; "Building Capacity in Countries Embarking on or Expanding Their Nuclear Power Programmes"; and "Total cost and time management of NPP construction projects: constituents of success in international projects".