24 Nov 2005 15:32

Over 300 delegates take part in Moscow Business Dialogue forumorganized by Interfax and Chatham House

Over 300 delegates took part in the 2nd International Investment Forum ‘Moscow Business Dialogue‘ on November 22-23, which was organized by Interfax Information Services Group and Chatham House.

Among the participants were top Russian government officials, governors, managers of a number of leading Russian and foreign companies and banks, and other members of the political and business elite in Russia and the West.
The forum, which dealt this year with ‘Investment in Russia: Problems and Solutions,‘ was supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who sent his greetings to its participants.
Putin said that he is confident the Moscow Business Dialogue will "promote the arrangement of new partnership ties and will help foreign business people learn more about opportunities and prospects for cooperation with Russia."
The delegates discussed Russia‘s financial-economic development, administrative, land, and tax reforms, problems surrounding Russia‘s accession to the World Trade Organization, and a number of legislative initiatives, including those promoting corporate legislation and the establishment of special economic zones in Russia. Forum participants also addressed the emerging consumer credit market in Russia, the development of the telecommunications and information technology sector, and the state of the fuel and energy sector.
Speakers at the forum included Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref, EBRD President Jean Lemierre, Russian presidential economic advisor Andrei Illarionov, International Finance Corporation department chief Edward Nassim, Russian presidential advisor Arkady Dvorkovich, Chatham House President Lord Robertson, British Ambassador to Russia Anthony Brenton, Tver Governor Dmitry Zelenin, Shell Chairman for Russia Chris Finlayson, ZAO Raiffeisenbank Austria Chairman Michel Perhirin, and other prominent politicians and business people.
The forum‘s general sponsors were Vneshtorgbank and Shell. The sponsors included Vnesheconombank, SUAL-Holding, TNK-BP, KPMG, Baker & McKenzie, the National Reserve Bank, and Rosgosstrakh.
Kommersant Publishing House, The Moscow Times and Echo Moskvy radio provided information support.
Conference details are available at http://conference.interfax.ru in the Summary section.