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RSPP Executive Vice President Fedor Prokopov met with a representative delegation of Iceland’s leading business association. The delegation from the Federation of Icelandic Industries led by the Managing Director Orri Hauksson and the Vice Chairman of the Board Helgi Magnusson represented heavy industries, food, hi-tech and other sectors. Mr. Prokopov gave a brief account of the aims and objects of RSPP, the role the Union plays in the government’s economic decision-making and its international activities including cooperation with similar organizations abroad. During an hour-long Q&A Mr. Prokopov answered the following questions:
- How does RSPP foresee the development of Russian economy in the next couple of years?
- Have the current European crisis and the dollar woes affected Russia?
- What were the sources of Russia’s pre-crisis growth?
- What are the alternatives to natural resources?
- What is the nature of the RSPP ‘struggle’ with the government?
- What are Russia’s chances for EU or WTO membership?
Despite many differences, Iceland and Russia face similar problems of economic diversification trying to avoid being too dependent on natural resources.