Sochi-2010 investment forum: 179 deals worth 295 bln rubles
SOCHI. Sept 20 (Interfax) - The International Investment Forum Sochi-2010 ended on Saturday as deals continued to be signed.
"The preliminary results of the forum are the signing of 179 agreements totaling 295 billion rubles," Alexei Agafonov, the deputy governor of Krasnodar territory, said at the forum's concluding press conference on Saturday.
The document signings were still continuing, he said.
"The administration of Krasnodar territory signed 42 agreements worth 180 billion rubles. We are pleased with the results of the forum," he said.
"It was the first forum in the post-crisis period," he said.
"Municipal organizations in Krasnodar territory had excellent results, signing 137 agreements totaling 115 billion rubles," Agafonov said.
Four major governmental agreements were signed at the forum in Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's presence, as well as one agreement between the Russian government and Abkhazia covering border crossings.
Representatives from more than 32 countries attended the forum, from Abkhazia, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, the UK, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, China, Canada, Nigeria, Poland, Slovakia, the U.S., Turkey, France and Japan, among others. Abkhazia, Armenia, Turkey, Montenegro, Czech Republic and South Ossetia sent government delegations. Ambassadors in Russia from 13 countries also attended.
Fifty-three Russian regions sent representatives, including 32 governors.
About 1,000 members of the press from 18 countries covered the forum.
The main event was the plenary session "Investment Climate: Goals, Expectations and Results."
Other notable events included the conference "Regions in Competition for Investors," an expanded meeting of the intergovernmental commission on preparations for the 22nd Winter Olympics and the 11th Winter Paralympics in 2014 in Sochi, as well as 40 roundtables attended by more than 1,500 people, and two business brunches attended by representatives of major Russian and foreign companies. Nine Russian regions held presentations.
The forum venue had 16,300 square meters of floor space in total.
The exhibition hall covered 11,200 square meters. A total of 170 Russian and foreign businesses had stands at the forum.