InvestRussia 2012: new opportunities
Presentation of the Third International Investment Forum "InvestRussia 2012: new opportunities"(PDF)
Dear friends!
The second international investment forum, held last year was dedicated to the investment climate in Russia, with a special focus on Russia’s industrial parks. The Association of Industrial Parks of Russia (AIP) was the main organiser of what has now become an annual event.
In 2011, the forum generated a lot of interest, addressing actual issues regarding the creation and development of industrial parks in Russia as platforms, which are in high demand both by foreign and Russian investors. In addition to representatives of major, foreign multinational companies based in Russia and abroad, over 400 delegates from 40 Russian regions took part in the 2011 forum. Representatives of over 20 countries were also present at the event. The exhibition, which took place during the forum, featured over 30 innovative projects presented by various industrial parks and industrial zones. The forum served as an effective platform for creating valuable business contacts between the business community and representatives of several Russian regions actively involved in developing industrial parks.
In 2012, great work was carried out by the AIP and the All-Russian Public Organization "Business Russia" in interacting with various federal government ministries. At a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, the issue of industrial parks was raised as one of the key factors to the country’s successful economic development. The Russian Federation President, Dmitry A. Medvedev in his message to the Federal Assembly likewise indicated that the creation of new industrial parks and the development of those parks already in existence is a matter of strategic priority.
The Third International Forum “InvestRussia 2012 – new opportunities”, will be held from the 19th – 21st of April, 2012. As usual, the forum will be held at the President hotel in Moscow. The third international forum will also be the first and biggest business forum to be held in the new administration.
Following the forum, a communiqué will be sent to the Russian government. This communiqué will highlight concrete proposals on further improving the Russian investment climate.
Top representatives of the biggest foreign and Russian companies, trade missions, business associations, embassies and federal and regional bodies will take part in this event, as well as potential and current investors.
Therefore, I invite you all to take an active part in the upcoming forum organised by the Association of the Industrial Parks of Russia, “InvestRussia 2012 – new opportunities”.
We look forward to seeing you in April, 19-21, 2012
in Moscow, at the "President Hotel".
Maxim Ivanov, the chairman of the board of the association of industrial parks, the chairman of the organizing committee of forum.
FORUM SPEAKERS
Dominique Fache, Chairman of the Board of Directors, OAO Enel OGK-5
David Thomas, President and CEO, Volvo Cars Russia
Ivanov M.Y., Chairman of the forum's Organizing Committee, Chairman of the Board of Industrial Parks of Russia Association
FORUM EVENTS
The "Industrial Parks of Russia" exhibition
The exhibition of industrial parks best projects from more than 30 regions of Russia will work during two days of the forum. Draft of entire regions, as well as private operating industrial parks will be presented on the stands. In addition, the interactive map of industrial parks in Russia with the possibility to get full access to all presented designs will be available for everyone at the center of the exhibition at all times of the forum.
PLENARY SESSION
Russia’s economy – the role of the foreign investor
This session will attempt to take a look at the investment climate and industrial development within the Russian Federation.
The aim of the discussion that follows will be to come up with a set of specific recommendations with regard to improving the overall investment climate in Russia. These shall then be forwarded to the relevant government bodies, for consideration, when drafting future investment policies.
Top representatives of the leading multinational companies in Russia shall take part in this session. Present will also be representatives of the Russian Federation Ministry of Economic Development, trade missions, embassies and other representatives of relevant federal and regional bodies.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Russia’s current role on the global economic market
This is the theme of several sessions which will be held within the framework of the forum. These sessions shall take a look at Russia in terms of facts, perceptions and forecasts. Issues addressed will include new technologies, models of economic cooperation and international trade. The sessions will likewise take a look at the impact the Russian Federation’s membership in the WTO, BRICS and EURASEC will have on the modernisation and subsequent development of the country’s development.
Public Private Partnerships
Russia’s PPP market has emerged in the last 5-7 years. Many of these PPP projects involve an increasing involvement of international experts, particularly, in construction and operation. This session looks at the current PPP projects both on a national and regional levels (PPP Local), and the foreign investor’s role in the new opportunities this segment of Russia’s economy presents – industrial parks, transport infrastructure, real estate, among others. The choices of many international investors with regard to what country they should invest in are limited by a lack of knowledge. One of the current PPP projects in the transport sector in Russia, the Orlovsky Tunnel in St. Petersburg, at a cost of around $1 billion is still substantially bigger than the largest road PPP in relatively mature markets such as Germany – the A1, at $672 million. This session will provide the knowledge needed on the PPP rules in Russia, the regulatory systems in place and the opportunities available, of which there are many.
Russia’s monetary and fiscal policies
This session takes a closer look at the decisions taken by the Central Bank of Russia and the State with regard to monetary and fiscal policies. Russia is the eleventh largest economy in the world by nominal value and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity. Trade activities and investments are strategic areas of both domestic and foreign policy. One of the goals of the new administration is to continue implementing the State programme for modernisation which seeks to invite Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In 2011, the CBR continued tightnening the monetary policy, which in addition to other measures taken successfully addressed the issue of inflation. What policies does the Centarl Bank of Russia (CBR) plan to implement in 2012? How will it affect foreign investment? These and other issues will be discussed at the panel session.
Special Economic Zones
Currently, there are sixteen federal economic zones and several regional projects in Russia. As of March 2010, Russia's federal special economic zones host 207 investors from 18 countries. There are major multinationals among investors to Russia's special economic zones (SEZ), such as Air Liquide, Bekaert, Cisco, Isuzu, Rockwool, Yokohama and many others. Russia’s fifteen existing and to-be federal special economic zones are managed by OJSC "Special Economic Zones". The establishment of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan led to the replacement of national customs’ legislations with the legislation of the Customs Union. Accordingly, the Treaty “On the Issues of Special Economic Zones in the Customs Territory of the Customs Union and the Customs Procedure of the Free Customs Zone” (SEZ Treaty) dated 18th of June, 2010 will gradually replace the existing Russian legislation that regulates the customs’ benefits applied in Special Economic Zones. What are the implications of the new legislation to foreign investment and already existing foreign investors in these three countries? These and more will be addressed at this event.
The development and implementation of innovative technologies and know how in Russia
“Russia has claimed its choice of principle in favor of stable development, on the basis of innovations and modern technology solutions.” - Vladimir V. Putin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Both businesses and the State agree that innovative technologies, new inventions and know how are one of the strategic approaches to any country’s economic development. The effective development of any country’s industrial sector depends heavily on the successful development and implementation of innovative projects, which in part is realised through the commercialisation of
these projects. In other words, the role of the business sector and by implication, foreign investors can not be underplayed. In this session you will get a chance to hear from leading centers for developing innovative technologies and know how: representatives from ROSNANO, the Russian Agency for Strategic Initiatives and other establishments created to support innovative projects at all levels will interact with potential investors and members of the business community to see how each party can effectively contribute to this process.
PRACTICAL SEMINARS
Financial instruments: the Do’s and Don’ts of investing in Russia and the status quo on SMEs
For foreign companies operating in Russia and potential foreign investors, the burning topics in the finance sector are Public Private Partnerships, Russia’s accession to the WTO and the subsequent impact on the country’s economy, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and last but not least, Joint Ventures. This practical seminar allows potential investors gain first hand information from multinational companies already established on the Russian market. It also provides a platform for the successful interaction between the investors and representatives of the relevant government bodies.
Energy efficiency in production
Russia’s energy efficiency has increased significantly during the last ten years. Up until 2007, Russia’s GDP increased by seven percent while energy consumption grew by just two percent. A five percent minimum with regard to improvement in energy efficiency per annum is the Russian government’s official target. Both the government’s medium-term economic policy plan and the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation till 2030 point to a diminishing role for the energy sector. The Energy Strategy document strives for an economy in which the energy sector’s role is less than twenty percent of the GDP by 2030. The details of this strategy and the foreign investor’s role in the implementation of this strategy are just some of the issues that will be addressed at this practical session.
Addressing taxation issues, when investing in Russia: questions, answers, facts
The Russian tax regime is one of the most generous in the world. If Russia keeps this up for another decade, facilitates compliance, and drops the remaining currency barriers, it may in fact become a tax haven. This practical seminar addresses questions related to transfer pricing, Value Added Tax, the principle of thin capitalization on the Russian market and more. Speakers include leading experts from Ernst&Young (CIS) B.V. and other top consultancy companies in Russia.
Legal aspects of investing in Russia
This seminar will take a look at the legal aspects linked with making an investment in Russia. Topics highlighted will include laws regarding Public Private Partnerships, Joint Stock companies, Rela Estate and more.
A look into Russia’s HR sector – specifics, issues, forecasts
This seminar will take a look at Russia’s HR sector, focusing, in particular, on providing information relevant to foreign companies – recruitment, outstaffing, secondment, assessment, training and development.
Greenfield and Brownfield investments and Russia’s industrial parks
The Russian federal and regional authorities are focused on increasing foreign investment in Russia. Serious and hichly effective steps are already being taken to that effect. Greenfield or Brownfield: what should be the ideal strategy when investing in Russia? This seminar elaborates on quantitative and qualitative factors when making either of the investments.
Russia’s transport and customs system: logistics, issues and current trends
The transport network of the Russian Federation is one of the world's most extensive. The national web of roads, railways and airways stretches almost 7,700 km from Kaliningrad in the west to the Kamchatka Peninsula in the east, and major cities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg are served by extensive rapid transit systems.
Russia has adopted two national transport strategies in recent years. On the 22nd of November 2008, the Russian government adopted a revised Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation, extending the original strategy that was adopted initially by the Russian Ministry of Transport, to 2030.
The export of transport services is an important component of Russia’s GDP. The government expects that by 2030, the measures included in its 2008 transport strategy will increase the export of transport services to a total value of $80 billion; this is a sevenfold increase on its 2008 value. Foreign cargo weight transported is expected to increase from 28 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes over the same period.
Now, with the successfully created the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, EurAsEc and Russia’s membership in the WTO, one can not overlook the issue of transport and customs, when investing in Russia. Already, laws being implemented within the Customs Union have greatly eased the processes related to transportation and customs. The forum’s seminar will highlight a great number of issues relevant to foreign investors.
Presentation of Certificates
The second AIP Awards Ceremony will be held at the forum. Throughout 2011, the Association of Industrial Parks in Russia continued with its activities on the voluntary certification of Russia’s industrial parks. This is an AIP certificate, which guarantees that all information presented by the industrial park in question, with regard to its activities and current state of development, is valid.
At the Awards Ceremony, the management of the Association and representatives of Russian federal organs will congratulate the heads of all the industrial parks that were successfully certified in 2011.
Signing of agreements
Several agreements will be signed at the forum, thereby, formalising the cooperation between the Association of Industrial Parks and its partners, as well as members of the Association and investors.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Forum (FAQ)
Which regions of Russia will participate?
Republic of Tatarstan, Perm Territory, Ulyanovsk, Kaluga, Moscow, Tver, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Ryazan, Vologda, Leningrad, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Moscow, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Samara, Rostov, Saratov, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk regions, Moscow, St. Petersburg and others (about 30).
How many participants do you expect?
We expect over 500 participants from 30 different regions of Russia. Present at the event will also be representatives of various countries, as well as local and international media representatives. Thirty to fourty per cent of the audience will be top representatives of regional administrations, as well as developers and managers of private industrial parks. Present will also be representatives of the federal authorities and top business representatives, including Russian and foreign investors and business associations that represent the intrests of foreign investors in Russia.
What countries will be represented at this event?
Last year, about 60% of the guests were Russian. Others, were representatives of countries such as Singapore, Turkey, China, UAE, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Finland...among others.
All business events of the Forum will be held in Russian and English (simultaneous translation will be provided).
