. Today in Yerevan, the conference of the International Union of Manufacturers, "Eurasian cooperation. The situation and perspectives" is taking place. For participating in the forum, about 500 people from 18 countries arrived. The International Union of Manufacturers was founded in 1999 with the disicion of the International Congress of Manufacturers. Among its founders are Russia, Armenia, Bellarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldavia, Georgia, Kirgizstan. The main problem of the IUM is the assistance to manufacturers in conducting economic reforms with the aim of integration into the world market economy. Nikolay Righkov, the ex-prime minister of the USSR, heads the Union.