Past Events hosted by the Russian Business Academy

A starting Russian business often suffers at the initial growth and development stages. It often has to fight its way through the obstacles put in its path by the government authorities, in form of red tape or various contradicting legislatures, especially in some regions of the Russian Federation.
It is essential for the new, emerging Russia to bring together local communities and businesses to create a society which works close together for everyone’s improvement.
The Russian Academy of Business considers the realization of this task as one of its primary goals and with this objective in mind; the Academy had created the Assemblies of the Russian Business People, which have now become an annual event. The purpose of these Russian National Forums is to give businesses from over 89 regions of Russia a unique opportunity to meet together and discuss essential problems, to listen to each others opinions and to join their efforts in order to find appropriate solutions for common problems. It is important that along with the outstanding representatives of Russian business community, the state and public figures, chiefs of the mass media, governors and regional government leaders of the Russian Federation participate in the sessions of the Assembly, and seek all possible solutions to the problems faced by the business community.

The Assemblies are held in the Grand Conference Hall of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. This further highlights the support that the Russian Federal Government provides for the annual National Assemblies. Furthermore the participants of the Assemblies are welcomed by messages from the Chairman of the State Duma and the Council of the Russian Federation, from the heads of the regions of the Russian Federation, from the Patriarch of Moscow and Russia, Alexei the I, and other state and public figures of Russia.

The Assemblies evoke great interest and response in the Russian mass media and the sessions are widely covered by Russian radio, Television, as well as the summary reports of the results of the Assemblies are published in influential Russian newspapers and magazines. The media attention which is concentrated on the Assemblies further demonstrates the importance of problems raised at these annual events.

The First Assembly of the Russian Business Community took place in Moscow during November 2001. The main topic of discussion was: "The Formation of a Favourable Climate is the basis for Russia's Economic Prosperity".
More than 1200 delegates, including 26 heads of the regional administrations and Heads of local governments, chiefs of the committees, deputies of the State Duma, high-ranking officials, directors of large business enterprises, delegations from 65 regions of Russia, attended the First Assembly.
Furthermore forty three central as well as local mass media agencies covered the work of the Assembly. In addition to the plenary sessions, "Round Tables" were held which provided an opportunity for their participants to discuss the important issues in more detail. The Round Table discussions were led by distinguished Russian politicians, economists and businesspeople, and were held at the Council of the Federation and the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Moscow Patriarchy, and in higher educational institutions.
The Assembly adopted a number of important resolutions, which included a project for the State Program, "The Revival of the Spiritual and Moral Traditions of Russian Entrepreneurship", which was forwarded to the legislative and executive bodies for approval and further realization. Moreover "An Appeal to the Government Authorities" and "An Appeal to the Mass Media" resolutions, proposed a favourable business climate in Russia.
The second Assembly of the Russian Business Community was held between May 31 and June 1, 2002 in the Grand Conference Hall of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. The main topic of discussion was "Women Are the Leaders of New Russia and Social and Economic Initiatives". The Assembly was attended by more than 1300 delegates, representing different regions of Russia. It was a national women's forum, which has become an independent ground for free debate on the most vital issues of contemporary Russia.
The event included outstanding representatives of the government and business, the chiefs of women's movements and public organizations, deputies of the State Duma and figures of academia and society. The Assembly brings together Russian women representing all spheres of political, public and religious life of Russia. Due to such a favourable response to the Assembly the press had dubbed this Assembly "A Women's Forum ". Besides the sessions, the work of the Assembly included 8 thematic “Round Tables", during which the participants have discussed all the problems that were brought forward during the Assembly, in more detail. The Round Tables were held at the Council of the Federation and the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Moscow Patriarchy and higher educational institutions in the Russian capital.
The Assembly was followed by the award ceremony. For the first time in the history of Russia, the National Prize "Olympia", presented in recognition of the achievements of Russian women. The ceremony was held in the Cathedral Hall of the Christ, the Saviour Cathedral, Moscow.

In the unanimous opinion of all the participants it was decided that in future the "Russian Women's Forum" would be held annually and separately from the Assemblies due to its popularity. Between the conventions of the Assembly the work will be carried out by a Committee, elected during the duration of the Assembly.
Between December 2 and 4, 2002, the Grand Conference Hall of the Federal President's Administration in Moscow was the venue of the Third Assembly of the Russian Business Community, “Investments in the Russian Economy: Practice and Prospects”.

In addition to representatives of domestic businesses, speakers at the plenary sessions of the Assembly included Irina Vakhraneva, assistant Vice President and deputy head of the Moscow representative office of the Bank of New York, USA; Hans Guldenberg, managing director of Nestle Food, Switzerland; Robert Borbidge, head of the Consultative Committee of the Asia-Pacific Space Center, Australia; Irene Commeau, General Director of the European Business Club; and Richard Wright, head of the European Commission's delegation in Moscow.

The second day of the Assembly was taken up by roundtables. The halls of the Federal President's Administration, the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly, federal ministries and departments, and representative offices of leading Russian and foreign financial and investment companies were turned into venues for discussions of theoretical and practical aspects of investment in small business, problems and prospects of investment-related laws, and ways to improve the investment image through reforms of the railroad system. These sessions were addressed by K. Bendukidze, General Director of the Amalgamated Engineering Plants Company, G. Fadeev, Federal Minister of Railroads, and G. Tomchin, President of the Russian Association of Privatized and Private Companies, among others.

As G. Tosunian, President of the Russian Banks Association had said, "…our roundtable addressed the lending and investment activities of Russian banks and foundations … the discussion was very heated and when time came for the section to finish up, there were far more people willing to convey their views than have already spoken. This was a straightforward dialog between industrialists and bankers. That is an area where real efforts can be put in to improve the economy."

"Significant results can be achieved in improving and promoting economic growth in Russia today only through joint efforts" said Irina Gorbulina, President of the Russian Academy of Business. "In this respect, the Assemblies of the Russian business community organized by our Academy provide a stimulus for all forces to pull in the same direction."

A memorable event during the Third Assembly of the Russian Business Community, was the presentation of the award Darin ® of the Russian Academy of Business to Yevgeni Primakov, the President of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for his significant personal contribution to the promotion of enterprise in Russia. "It is a great honour for me to receive this, Russia's highest business award," said Yevgeni Primakov.

The Academy's other awards presented within the Assembly's framework were the Russian Business Elite prizes and the Merited Entrepreneur badges.

The Third Assembly of the Russian Business Community ended on December 4 with the Sixth Award Ceremony for Russia's National Business Prize, Business Olympus-Darin®, for 2002.

The Assembly was attended by representatives of 72 regional territories of the Russian Federation, including Moscow, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, Voronezh, Orenburg, Sverdlovsk and Tambov regions, the republics of Bashkortostan and Karelia, and the Khanty-Mansi autonomous area.

Representatives of 48 nongovernmental women's organizations and associations from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, deputies of the State Duma and members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly spoke their views on problems confronting the modern society.

The Assembly's discussions focused on problems of women led businesses and their place in society, and the role of women in forming Russian statehood, business climate, and a civilized social framework in Russia.

The Assembly delegates were addressed by V.I. Matvienkto, Vice Premier of the Federal Government; G.N. Seleznyov, Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly; V.M. Dombrovsky, Vice President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers); I.V. Gorbulina, President of the Russian Academy of Business; G.I. Karelova, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development; L.I. Shvetsova, First Vice Mayor of Moscow in the Government of Moscow; A.G. Belova, Deputy Federal Minister of Railroads; heads of administrations in the member territories of the Russian Federation; representatives of Russian and international organizations and foundations; managers of major manufacturing enterprises, higher educational institutions, including V.N. Shevchenko, President of the Interregional Public Charity Foundation, the Nation's Health and Intellectuality; D.J. Medman, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Women's Microfinance Network; A.G. Griaznova, Rector of the Academy of Finance under the Federal Government; I.F. Lesnevskaya, General Director of the REN-TV Television Company, PTE, V.N. Shitko, Chaiman of the Association of Fishery Farms; M.M. Kazmina, Vice President of the Russian Lawyers Union, and many others.

The Russian Academy of Business considers that one of its main goals is the promotion of Russian business in the international arena, and to this end is actively involved in international activities.

The First Congress for the development of bi-lateral economic cooperation was organised by ASMO-press, D. E. & G. McGor International and the Queensland (Australia) Government in 1998. The event was successful with a number of important contracts signed and ratified which are still in force today.

In May 2000, "ASMO-press" together with the Moscow State University organized the meeting of the Club of Rome in Moscow, where the issues of development of the international economic connections and Russia's role and participation were discussed.

In December, 2000, at the invitation of the former general director of UNESCO, Federico Mayor, a delegation from " ASMO-press " and the Academy took part in the international conference on Culture of Peace. The Conference was held in the capital of Spain Madrid, and was followed by a reception for the participants of the forum by the king of Spain, Juan Carlos.

In October, 2001 in the Vienna Palace of Industry a meeting was organized by The Russian Academy of Business and the International Journalists Association "ASMO-press", together with the International Assembly of Economic, Cultural and Scientific Cooperation " Global World ", Federation of Industry of Austria and Raifaizen Central Bank of Austria. The main topic was, "The Foreign Investors in the ermerging Russian Market".

In December, 2001, a delegation of The Russian Academy of Business took part in the Ukrainian-Russian Economic Forum which was convened to settle the existing contradictions in the economic relations between the two countries. The event was held in Kharkov, Ukraine.

The program of the Forum included discussions focusing on the specific investment and cooperation projects for the development of Russian-Ukrainian economic cooperation.

The work of the Forum included a plenary session during which the President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin and the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma took part. The decision was taken to hold such Forums annually. The main results of the Forum were: signing of an inter-government document, in line with which Russia will maintain its activities at the Ukrainian NEP and the foundation of a Russian-Ukrainian academy, which was tasked with the solution of the problems of developing higher numbers of managerial staff.

The Second Australian-Russian Congress for the Development of Economic Cooperation took place between the 26th and 30th of August 2002 in Brisbane and Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The goal of the Second Australian-Russian Congress for the Development of Economic Cooperation was to provide a favourable environment for forming stable business relations between Russia and Australia. Many significant Russian business people and notable political figures attended this convention.

The Congress concentrated on cooperation in the areas of trade, construction, finance, investments, agribusiness and tourism. Participants had an opportunity to exchange knowledge and formulate suitable procedures for a closer cooperation between the two countries.

An important means of achieving the goal of this conference will be face to face meetings between Russian and Australian businesspeople and entrepreneurs. These meetings provided a unique opportunity for the delegates to sit together and discuss the issues of potential business cooperation; in addition to the general meeting, seminars, and workshops.

An interesting social event program had been arranged and was available for the participants who wished to visit tourist attractions in the city.
Queensland was chosen as the venue for the Convention because it is the fastest, most dynamically growing State of Australia, and the city of Gold Coast is one of the most exciting resort areas of the new millennium.

Organized by the Academy in 2002, the third Assembly of the Russian Business People "Investments in Russia's Economy: Practice and Prospects", took the international activities of the Academy to a new and higher level. A number of foreign companies and notable international businessmen and financial figures, interested in investment projects in Russia, had been invited to attend this forum. Starting this year, the award, Russian Business Academy Award DARIN®, will also include notable foreigner investors, who have made significant contributions to the development of Russian business.

With the objective of improving the work on promotion and the achievement of the best Russian businesspeople, the Academy had come up with the idea of organizing a press-club "Prof", which will include journalists of the central and regional Russian mass media and news agencies, who specialize in covering economic subjects and are genuinely interested in the development and strengthening of national business activities.
The foundation of the club was a logical step in the fulfilment of the Academy's goals for combining the efforts of national business and the mass-media for the advancement of the economic growth of Russia.