Welcome Address to participants of the Mid-Russian Economic Forum

I am pleased to send my greetings to the participants of the Mid-Russian Economic Forum on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Your region benefits from rich natural resources, well-developed industrial capacities, agriculture, and skilled labor force underpinning a good investment climate and the development of interregional and international business cooperation.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to assist these processes. Partnering with the key development institutions we are developing an investment facilitating infrastructure fully employing the capacities of the Chamber and all its units in Russia and abroad. We co-founded the International Agency for Business Development and Investments whose mission is to increase long-term investment opportunities in Russian regions. In pursuance of the trilateral investment and innovation activity assistance agreement with the Government of Kursk region and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kursk region, we arranged a presentation of the top priority regional projects steering some of them into target negotiations with investors. We are currently administering and will continue monitoring these projects to ensure they are implemented. This is our standard approach to cooperation with regions.

Today’s development priorities are: stimulating the innovation infrastructure (research parks, business incubator, technology transfer centers, fair and exhibition activities), developing human resources, refreshing professional skills and improving educational response to requirements of the real economy. The discussion of these and other pivotal matters at the Mid-Russian Economic Forum will contribute to finding solutions to the social and economic issues of the region.

May I wish the participants of the Forum efficient work.

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
S.N. Katyrin