RSPP President Speaks at CEFIC Session

RSPP President Alexander Shokhin was a guest speaker at the 19th session of the Russian – French Council for Economic, Financial, Industrial and Trade Issues (CEFIC) in Moscow. The session was hosted by the Economic Development Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov and the French Trade Minister Nicole Bricq.

RSPP’s chief French partner is MEDEF (the Movement of the Enterprises of France). The cooperation between the two national employers’ associations focuses on innovative spheres such as aerospace, energy, automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology etc. The integration processes occurring across the former Soviet Union have recently drawn much attention from analysts with both organizations as well, according to Mr. Shokhin. “Yet another area of cooperation between RSPP and MEDEF, one that is getting clearly beyond bilateral ties, is, according to Mr. Shokhin, the multilateral format connected with Russia’s upcoming G20 presidency which will open before business circles whole new areas for bilateral initiatives and for contributing to the global agenda in trade, investment, finance regulations, updating labour standards, anti-graft and technology”, said RSPP President.

Another way for French and other foreign investors to work with RSPP is via the Union’s International Council for Cooperation and Investment. The latest of ICCI major events, the extended session entitled ‘Cooperation Across the Unified Economic Space’, took place this year on June 27 and featured speakers from the ‘France – Russia Business Council’, ‘MEDEF International’ and the Economic Development Ministry of Russia.

The session was rounded off with a CEFIC co-chairs’ meeting with over 30 companies from Russia and France, arranged by RSPP and MEDEF with the assistance from the Economic Development Ministry and the Franco – Russian Dialogue association. Topics discussed included ‘Big Moscow’ project and the French companies’ involvement with the ‘Russia – EU: A Partnership for Modernization’ initiative.