President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russian Federation Mr. Katyrin Meets Leadership of Russia – Arab Countries Business Councils

The meeting of President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Mr. Katyrin with the Leadership of the Russian Federation – Arab countries Business Councils took place on 5th September 2011 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Mr. S. Katyrin, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. M. Bogdanov, Director of Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation Mr. S. Chernyshev (Ms. N. Chernikova), Chairman of the Russian-Arab Business Council (RABC) Mr. V. Yevtushenkov, Director of RABC Ms. Т. Gvilava, the Leadership of Russia – Arab countries Business Councils, etc. took part in the meeting.

The matters under discussion at the meeting were an appraisal of the Russian Federation – Arab countries Business Councils’ activities and an analysis of the situation in the Arab world in connection with the further changes in this region.

In this regard most of the speakers noted vulnerabilities of the current scientific and technical cooperation and cooperation among a whole number of Departments. Economically speaking the main task of today is the protection of the interests of the Russian business and of the whole country.

The Business Councils should take more active steps to expand their activities. It is necessary to strive for filling a temporary niche in the sphere of economic relations; the niche, which is observed in those countries where some changes have happened. Otherwise, this niche will be filled by others.

It is essential to try to find and take advantage of the new opportunities. At present some quite good chances for economic presence remain in Egypt, Libya and other ‘troubled countries’. A resumption of the Russian grain export to Arab countries was noted at the meeting as a positive action. The Russian grain export to the countries of the Arab region is regarded as the best policy to favour the development of greater understanding and strengthening of friendly ties between the countries, and, hence, also to contribute much to getting and keeping other business contacts.

The participants of the meeting put forward an idea to set up an investment agency in order to promote and develop cooperation in the sphere of capital investments and to issue a periodical ― a guidebook for the Russian and Arab businessmen seeking to have long term and mutually advantageous cooperation.

Also the participants in a discussion recognized the need to support the congress and exhibition activities and to further the development and strengthening of cooperation with the Russian diplomatic missions in the Arab countries.

Е. G. Novitsky, Chairman of the RJBC and V. А. Kononenko, Deputy Chairman of the RJBC