Russian and transnational business is amply represented at the forum. Prominent among the delegates are Alexander Zhukov, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister; Alexei Kudrin, Finance Minister; and Anatoli Chubais, United Russian Power Grid Co. president.
Scheduled for April 19-20 are plenary and thematic sessions on partnership in the oil-and-gas complex, iron-and-steel and non-ferrous metal industry, telecommunications, power industry and finance. The gathering will also take stock of Russia's contacts with other CIS countries, the USA and the European Union, and its prospects to join the World Trade Organisation.
Tomorrow, Alexander Zhukov addresses the forum to take stock of a new federal governmental programme of social and economic reforms. He will hold conference the same day with John Prescott, UK Deputy Prime Minister, to discuss bilateral economic contacts.
Alexei Kudrin will address tomorrow's plenary session and meet, the same day, Gordon Brown, the host country's Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Patricia Hewitt, Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry. He will meet in conference with Jean Lemiere, President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Tuesday.
The London forum aims to promote a good public image of Russian business and government reforms, and attract overseas capital investments to Russia.
Last year increased the Russian-British trade turnover by close on 25%, and Russian imports from the UK by a spectacular 43%. British exports from Russia amounted to four billion US dollars.
One can hardly find a better show window for Russian business in Britain and the whole world than the London forum. It offers Russians a fine opportunity to say what they think of current developments in their country, says Sir Roderick Lyne, British Ambassador to Russia.
