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St Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16, 2011, housed 4th Russian-American Roundtable “Russia – U.S. Strategic Partnership: Fundamental Issues”.
The Roundtable was set up by the Russian – American Business Dialogue which unites leading business associations of the two countries: RSPP, Russian Chamber of Commerce, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia), Opora Rossii (Russia’s Support), Russian – American Business Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
The Business Dialogue was put into action prior to official pushing of the ‘reset button’: in 2008 St Petersburg Forum witnessed the signing of an agreement between RSPP and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Over a comparatively short span of activity has forged ahead on a wide range of issues, due in large part to solid support from the governments. Business Dialogue is a permanent participant in the work of the Business Development and Economic Relations Working Group of the U.S. – Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission.
Inaugurating the Roundtable Viktor Vekselberg, President of the Skolkovo Foundation, Chairman of the RSPP International Cooperation Committee and member of the RSPP Bureau told of the unfailing interest on the part of companies of the two countries and their willingness to implement new joint projects. However Russian – American cooperation shows a lack of full-blown institutional basis: the trade agreement between the two countries was signed at the beginning of 1990s and at present weighs heavily against the development of economic ties. “There is a firm conviction on the part of Russian businesses that we are absolutely prepared for an upswing in our economic relations”, said Mr. Vekselberg.
Among those who spoke on Russia – U.S. strategic partnership were RSPP Bureau members Anatoly Karachinsky, Alexei Mordashov, Dmitry Pumpyansky and David Yakobashvili, RSPP Board member Alexei Isaykin, U.S. Ambassador John Byerle, Special Representative for Commercial and Business (U.S. Department of State) Affairs Lorraine Hariton, head of American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Andrew Somers, Ernst&Young Global CEO James Turley, United Technologies CEO Louis Chenevert, Caterpillar President Gerard Vittecoq, Citigroup Vice Chairman Carlos Gutierrez etc.