On June 8th, 2008 the Berkut Association Management participated in the opening ceremony of the Russian-Swiss Business Summit in Nizhniy Novgorod. The main objects of the Summit were to present business opportunities for Russian companies in Switzerland, contribute to development of the business relations between Russia and Switzerland, share the experience of the Russian companies successfully working in the Swiss market and to provide information on the basic economic, legal and other business conditions in Switzerland.
At the Summit opening S.R. Borisov, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Development of Small and Medium Business and the Head of “Opora Rossii” Russian Public Association, pointed out that the Summit would contribute to the development of business relations between the Nizhny Novgorod and Swiss entrepreneurs. Almost all spheres of economic activity (from agriculture to industrial production) are presented in Switzerland and cooperation with such an economically developed country is beneficial for Russian entrepreneurs, in particular in the sphere of advanced technologies and innovative ideas. “Currently the world economy is undergoing rapid globalization and this process covers 36 countries, including Russia. You do not necessarily need to go abroad. Now Russian entrepreneurs can live in Russia and work with Swiss companies due to development of information technologies”, stated S. Borisov. He also noted that Russian entrepreneurs are invited to Sweden and are provided with opportunities for business development.
D.P. Birman, Chairman of “Opora Rossii” Nizhny Novgorod Regional Department, emphasized that, on the one hand, Russians are capable of promoting business in Switzerland and, on the other hand, the Swiss can make investments in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.
Among the participants of the Summit were A. Yu. Ivanov, the Counselor of the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, V.S. Kolchin, Vice-Mayor of Nizhniy Novgorod, V.V. Seleznev, Deputy Minister of the Ministry for Support of Small and Medium Enterprises, Consumer Market and Services of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, I.S. Gaiduk, Chairman of the European Centre of “Opora Rossii” Public Association in Switzerland, etc. Representatives of Russian enterprises, insurance companies, credit institutions and business associations interested in cooperation with Switzerland were invited to participate in the Summit.
The holders and partners of the Summit with support of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government were OSEC Swiss Investment Promotion Agency, the Swiss Embassy in the Russian Federation, the Swiss National Tourist Corporation, the Swiss canton agencies of economic development, the Swiss-Russian Chamber of Commerce, the Nizhniy Novgorod Association of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs, “Opora Rossii” National Public Organization of Small and Medium Business, “Delovaya Rossiya” Russian Public Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Nizhniy Novgorod Region, PriceWaterhouseCooper, CreditSuisse and Gazprom Bank.