Financial crisis could not frighten businessmen who came to the 7th International Forum in the South-Russian city of Sochi. During this two day long event, representatives of Russia's regions managed to secure a 14.4 bln Euro worth of future investment.
The Forum's central event was a plenary session, where Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin adressed the delegates with a speech on the country's economy and its future. The current financial crisis was mentioned in his address, and, of course, was one of the main topics discussed at the forum in general.
A special round table discussion was set to talk about the crisis, and all its participants admitted that the problems financial markets are experiencing internationally were now affecting Russia. Andrei Sharonov, the Managing Director of Troika Dialogue, began his speech saying that Russian authorities underestimated the seriousness of the crisis. Valery Fadeed, CEO of Expert Media Holding, who presided the meeting, cited Putin's presentation, where the PM underlined the need to create a self-sufficient financial system in Russia. Anatoly Aksakov, the President of Association of Regional Banks, listed the challenges to be met in order to build such a system: issues of financial resources, legislation, the need for a mass investor in Russia and the issue of attracting money from individuals.
All the round table meeting participants agreed that Russia's government should have had taken anti-crisis steps earlier in order to prevent it. Mr. Sharonov said that though the finance sector was the first to suffer from the crisis, soon the whole economy will feel it.
Another important theme was the Winter Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Sochi in 2014, and a lot of investment was promised for the city. Alexander Tkachev, the Governor of Kransodar region where Sochi is located, is said to have signed 35 contracts with both Russian and International investors, worth of 4.6 bln. Euros.
Olga Shevtsova
http://eng.expert.ru |
